Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has offered support for defender Kyle Walker-Peters.
Kyle Walker-Peters is expected to start for Tottenham this evening away to Barcelona.
It is a daunting prospect. Manager Mauricio Pochettino has backed the youngster to succeed.
Pochettino told Football.London: “I want to remind you that 18 months ago he won the Under-20 World Cup in Korea and he quality is unbelievable. Young players always need the trust and need to play and to play in a difficult place like the Nou Camp will make him stronger than before. We don’t have doubts that he can perform.”
Pochettino’s words and actions do not necessarily match up.
While it’s important he publicly backs the young defender to give him confidence, his comments come across as disingenuous based on his past actions.
Pochettino is only playing Walker-Peters because his first two options at right-back are out injured.
If he had such faith in the youngster, he would never have signed Serge Aurier, who has blocked his development.
Over the past 18 months, Walker-Peters has barely figured.
If Pochettino had shown more faith in him, then Walker-Peters would have been better prepared for tonight’s challenge.
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