Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino would be wrong not to ‘experiment’ against Borussia Dortmund

Follow us on Google Discover

Tottenham Hotspur travel to Borussia Dortmund on the back of North London derby defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino strongly rejected suggestions that he could experiment with his lineup for Tuesday’s Champions League tie with Borussia Dortmund, according to Football.London.

Spurs have already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition ahead of their trip to Germany and had several key players carrying injuries into Saturday’s comprehensive North London derby defeat to Arsenal.

Pochettino has hinted that he could rotate his squad, but insisted there would be no experiments in his selection.

“Experiment? No, no, no,” Football.London quotes Pochettino as saying.

“It’s play one or another. It’s a decision but never an experiment. Come on. We have 24 players that can all play. They are football players. Experimenting is another thing. I’m not a doctor. I don’t experiment.”

Pochettino’s objection to the word ‘experiment’ is likely just to protect the fringe players who may start in Dortmund, but the Argentine would be wrong not to try something different considering the events of recent weeks.

What has become abundantly clear across the games against Manchester United and Arsenal is that Spurs are nowhere near as effective without Harry Kane, and don’t trust Fernando Llorente to deputise even when the England striker is not at full fitness because making use of the Spaniard requires a drastic change in playing style.

Llorente should start at the Westfalenstadion alongside Son Heung-min in a forward two so that Tottenham can work on adapting their game for if and when Kane is unavailable, or in need of rest later in the season.

It is unfair to expect Llorente to come in and do a similar job to the back-to-back golden boot winner with such little playing time, and Tottenham may need the target man for a run in the Premier League team at some point.

Considering Kane’s recent injury and the guaranteed future of their European campaign – a win over Dortmund or Apoel Nicosia will secure Spurs top spot in Group H – Tuesday is the perfect time to…experiment with Llorente.