Tottenham Hotspur will be without Toby Alderweireld against Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Alderweireld has been left out of the Tottenham squad for the first leg of the last-16 tie against Italian giants Juventus in Turin.
Spurs manager Pochettino has stated that he has decided to leave the Belgium international central defender out of the squad for his own good, as he does not want him to have a recurrence of his hamstring injury.
The Argentine has also given the example of Chelsea attacking midfielder Ross Barkley to drive home his point.
The England international suffered a long-term hamstring injury in August when he was at Everton; the 24-year-old moved to Chelsea in the January transfer window for a fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £15 million.
“Of course we are sorry for him,” Pochettino told The Guardian. “We work a lot to play in this type of game against Juventus. When you cannot play, it is difficult to accept.
“The player feels fit to play but it is our responsibility, together with the medical department, to take the best decision. With this injury, be careful. It was a massive one.
“Look at different players that had setbacks with it – like Ross Barkley [of Chelsea]. Toby is not 20 years old, he is 28. To play in these type of tough games, you need to be 200 per cent. We cannot put his career at risk.”
Sensible decision
True, playing against Juventus in Turin must be a big deal for Alderweireld, but Pochettino’s reason behind his decision on the 28-year-old defender is sensible.
It would not make sense to take a risk on the fitness of the former Ajax and Atletico Madrid star, especially as Spurs are aiming to finish in the top four of the Premier League this season.
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