Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettinho has made it clear he has no pressure of keeping Toby Alderweireld’s World Cup hopes alive. And this statement has unquestionably but the Belgium International’s career at Spurs in heavy doubt.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez recently said that Alderweireld’s place in the World Cup squad will be at stake if the central defender does not more game time at his club and replying to this Pochettino said:
“I have an amazing relationship with Roberto. I understand his comment, like all the managers.
“If I am the Belgium manager, England manager or Argentina manager I want all my players to play. But my focus is to manage Tottenham and win games with Tottenham. I cannot be kind to every single manager.
“Toby in the last four months has struggled with his injury.
“I am not going to change the system because Toby needs games for the World Cup.
“I need to pick two centre-backs and if you are happy you keep the couple of players and he needs to wait.
“The interest for me is Tottenham, it’s about Tottenham winning. I understand his international manager but what can I do?
“I need to pick the players that I believe are the best players to win against Chelsea and then against Stoke. I cannot play with more than 11 and you need to choose.
“I am agreed that the players need to play and compete but, first of all, every single player needs to show in the training session that they are better than their team-mate and then at that moment I pick.
“I understand the manager but what can I do? If he keeps working hard he is going to have the opportunity to play and compete but he is an experienced player.
“He needs to be fit and to be fit he needs to train every day.”
Recent reports have suggested that Daniel Levy has pulled the plug on a new deal for Toby Alderweireld meaning that the player could very well be on his way out of the club during the summer transfer window.
Manchester United and Barcelona are already said to be interested in signing Alderweireld and now it is being suggested that Chelsea are also planning to make a move for the 29-year-old.
Alderweireld has asked Tottenham Hotspur to provide him with a new deal worth £150,000-a-week but the Lilywhites are reluctant to spend that sort of money.
At this point of time, it looks like a three horse race to sign Alderweireld but surely Mauricio Pochettino will refrain from selling him to a direct rival, meaning Barcelona hold the upper hand in this deal if they choose to make a move.
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