Christopher Nkunku was expected to be in the starting lineup last night. The attacker was rested (at least that’s what we assumed at the time) for two games in a row leading up to this, and we all thought that meant he’d play tonight and from the start against Liverpool in the cup final.
But he was on the bench tonight, and there’s no talk of an injury. It seems he really is just not in the team because Mauricio Pochettino thinks he has better options in some games right now.
Today the whole team had to run hard and defend, and the coach preferred to have Nkunku off the bench. He still didn’t chase around much when he was on, and we saw the first signs of fan unhappiness at his work rate in the second period. Is this why Pochettino leaves him out?
Still is being used very isolated up top when he does play at the moment, in a role which really doesn’t suit him.