Selection Headaches Abound for Pochettino as Tottenham's Cup Final Date Looms
A couple of days after Tottenham Hotspur secured their place in the Capital One Cup final, head coach Mauricio Pochettino outlined the simplicity of his selection process.
"We decide for each game the best team for try to get the victory. We analyse every day the players, the fitness level. After we manage, we believe that is best for the team."
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A sensible approach, you might agree. But as Tottenham's Wembley date with Chelsea looms, Pochettino faces a more headache-inducing fortnight than normal.
Naturally everyone in his squad will be keen to start the final. The Argentinian also has to balance his resources between the two-legged Europa League round-of-32 match with Fiorentina, and an important Premier League clash with West Ham United.
The final is just three days after the second game with la Viola in Florence. So as to reduce fatigue, Pochettino revealed in the aforementioned January 30 press conference Spurs might stay overnight and train on the Friday in Italy.
No matter what the north London club do to keep their players as fresh as possible, some rotation is going to be required.
It is a difficult juggling act for a manager.
In 2009, Harry Redknapp prioritised Spurs' domestic affairs over European competition. They were battling to avoid a relegation battle, and naturally a chance of silverware—against Manchester United in the League Cup final—was not to be wasted.
For the UEFA Cup matches with Shakhtar Donetsk, Redknapp fielded inexperienced youngsters like John Bostock and Dean Parrett alongside fringe players such as Gareth Bale, Giovani Dos Santos and Gilberto. More regular starters like Heurelho Gomes and Wilson Palacios made up the numbers.
A superb strike by Dos Santos in the second leg gave Spurs hope. However, the eventual champions Donetsk added a third aggregate goal late on through Fernandinho to seal their progress. Spurs would go on to lose their own final, but comfortably retain their Premier League status.
Tottenham are not in danger of being relegated in the present, but they are engaged in a fight for a top-four place. Also different to six years ago is the fact winning Europe's secondary competition comes with the additional reward of a Champions League place.
Spurs do have more depth than in 2009. Pochettino has mixed and matched during an especially busy winter period, and his players have largely responded well.
He has repeatedly stated his faith in his squad too, and he will likely believe they can deliver on three fronts in the coming weeks. Even so, some difficult decisions lay ahead.
Star performers Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane will be nailed-on starters for the final. Pochettino would probably like to play them in the three preceding games given their great form. Instead, ensuring they are in peak condition for Chelsea might require they are rested at some point.
Then you have Hugo Lloris. Tottenham's first-choice goalkeeper has played the majority of league and European matches. Michel Vorm, however, has started every round of the Capital One Cup.
"It's not my job to decide," Lloris said last week, per The Mirror's John Cross. "I will respect the manager's decision and abide by that, like all the players here do."
Even so, it would be understandable if the France and Spurs captain felt aggrieved at missing out. He is one of his side's top players and not to start him would be a big call. Despite Vorm's part in getting the team to the final, squad seniority might be the deciding factor.
Similar choices abound in central defence and midfield.
Eric Dier has partnered Jan Vertonghen in the former position in recent weeks. With previous starter Federico Fazio in the mix, Pochettino will be contemplating whether and where to prioritise consistency or experience.
The possible dilemmas further forward are too multiple to list them all.
It is a positive that Spurs have several midfielders playing well early in 2015. Whoever is selected for Fiorentina, West Ham and Chelsea, Pochettino has talent capable of contributing to wins in all three fixtures.
But again, there will be disappointments. There are issues over what combinations suit which opponent too, and how decisions for one game affects the other.
"We need to prepare a plan and a strategy for the best condition to play the final," Pochettino acknowledged last month, "because we know that for the club, for our supporters, and for the players it’s a very important game."
The Capital One Cup final offers the most immediate rewards. All four upcoming matches are important, though. Pochettino is unlikely to face a more testing fortnight in regards to his coaching and managerial abilities than this one.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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