Glenn Hoddle has questioned Antonio Conte after his surprise decision to start Ryan Sessegnon as a right wing back in Tottenham’s win over Marseille.
Tottenham headed to France on Tuesday night knowing they needed a result.
A draw or a win would do it for Tottenham after a 1-1 draw against Sporting, but they were down and out at half time.
Chancel Mbemba’s first-half header put Tottenham behind and into the Europa League as things stood.
Tottenham roared back after the break though with Clement Lenglet and then Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sending Spurs into the last 16.
Glenn Hoddle has questioned Antonio Conte
From heading into the Europa League to qualifying as top of the group, Tottenham went on a real rollercoaster last night.
Antonio Conte wasn’t on the sideline due to suspension but one decision he made with his starting lineup left many confused.
Looking at the team sheet, it appeared that Ivan Perisic was starting at right wing back with Ryan Sessegnon on the left.
That would put them on their stronger sides and just seemed to make the most sense.
Yet when Tottenham lined up, they were switched around; Sessegnon on the right with Perisic on the left.
This isn’t anything like sticking Son Heung-min at centre back, but this still left some baffled.
Before half time – and with the score still at 0-0 – Conte decided to switch them around, seemingly communicating that decision to Cristian Stellini.
Former Tottenham man Glenn Hoddle then offered his view on that decision, telling BT Sport (01/11, 39min) that he couldn’t understand playing Sessegnon on the right in the first place.
Hoddle suggested that switching the wing backs was the right call in the end and believes Sessegnon should stay on the left flank rather than be moved around.
“I think that’s the right call,” said Hoddle. “I couldn’t understand it, I’m not sure why and I couldn’t see why that was going to happen, Sessegnon is a natural left-footer,” he added.
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