Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld was controversially left at home for his side’s Champions League tie against Juventus.
Eyebrows were raised when Mauricio Pochettino left Toby Alderweireld at home for Tottenham Hotspur’s match against Juventus in the Champions League, but the defender’s performance against Rochdale proved his manager right.
Alderweireld is on his way back from injury, and the Belgian appears to still have some way to go until his is back to his top form.
Alderweireld struggled against Rochdale yesterday, as Spurs could only pick up a 2-2 draw against the League One side.
The Belgian international was not at his brilliant best, and looked shaky at times at Spotland.
Alderweireld’s rusty display proves that Pochettino was correct to not name him in Tottenham’s squad for their match against Juve.
There was great surprise when the centre-back did not fly to Italy, but it is clear that Alderweireld still needs time to recover from his injury.
Although the 28-year-old is now fit enough to start, he is not match sharp.
And Pochettino was right to not throw him straight back into the heat of battle, when Spurs took on Juve, as he could have been exposed.
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