It sure was fun watching Tottenham Hotspur win an away European match, though that joy was tempered somewhat watching half the team collapse from exhaustion at the final whistle. It does finally seem to be sinking in with people, especially in the media, just how impactful and disastrous this injury crisis has been in the short to medium term. The players are clearly tired, but as I’ve said numerous times on these digital pages, the only way out is through.
So it should surprise no one to read that Tottenham will have eleven players out or doubtful for Sunday’s Premier League home match against relegation-threatened Leicester City. Ange confirmed in Germany that Dominic Solanke will be out for about six weeks with a MCL knee injury, and in today’s press conference there was even more bad news — knocks to Pape Sarr and Djed Spence that make them doubtful for the match as well.
“All those things are known, nothing’s changed in the last 24 hours. We kind of knew with Dom probably a few days back and we’ve had a press conference in the meantime. All these things are known and nothing has changed the last 24 hours that changes that part of it.
“Djed is still sore from the weekend and is a doubt for this weekend as he’s got a knock. Pape is still a doubt and Reggy should be ok.”
Tottenham got some good minutes out of a few players who have only recently returned from injury, including 17-year-old Mikey Moore and Richarlison. Richy in particular had a decent shift in Germany, though he was subbed out early, and Postecoglou confirmed that the club is still managing his match time to prevent a recurrence of the hamstring injury that kept him out for months earlier this season.
“[Richarlison is] as fit as he could possibly be. We are obviously managing his minutes at the moment. He got through it last night. He hasn’t played for a long time so he is not going to be his sharpest. We have still got to manage that. The reality is, unless something changes, he has to play.
“I don’t think Richy cares about Dom Solanke or anybody else. When Richy is playing he is Brazil’s No 9. When he played for us last year he was scoring goals. I don’t think Richy was ever worried.
“I think he will welcome Dom coming back. Both of them playing together could be a force for us. I don’t think that factors into it. Richy is just happy he is physically in good shape and able to start contributing and a lot of the injured guys their biggest probably frustration is that they can’t help the team. I know that is his main driver right now.”
There is hope for the future, as Cristian Romero is now back in first team training, with suggestions that Micky van de Ven will follow him next week. But that won’t help for this weekend’s match; Ange confirmed that while Romero is working, he’s not yet ready to play and the club is taking its time to make sure he’s not rushed back too soon.
“Like I said, we got [Romero] back training. Him and Micky are the next cabs off the rank in terms of the long-term ones. They’ve still got a bit to do in terms of getting some training into them with the team. Obviously we haven’t been training a lot and because the other day was sort of low tempo session, it was just good to get him involved, not just for him but the players involved because they need a bit of help and encouragement and Cuti training with them gives them a big lift.”
“Micky’s not too far away. These players will come back, knock on wood they’re not deceased, they’re just injured, so they will be all back so it’s not all doom and gloom. It’s good to see for the players as he’s joined in training the last couple of days but he’s still got a bit of work to do.”
There has been a lot of discussion in the media and elsewhere about exactly WHY Tottenham are in such a predicament. Yesterday, a lot of digital ink was spilled in reaction to an article in The Athletic that relied on anonymous sources and past employees of the physio squad from the club to suggest that Ange’s tactics and the way they play had a direct impact on the current crisis. Postecoglou was asked about what might be the cause; his answer not only suggested he read that particular piece, but also made it clear there’s nothing nefarious going on and that he takes responsibility for every decision.
“[It’s] just injuries. You can walk outside and say ‘jeeze it’s really bright’ and look at the sun and think ‘maybe it’s not the sun.’ But it’s the sun, mate. We’ve just got injuries.
“You can do a million investigations and talk to anonymous sources but you don’t need to talk to anonymous sources, you can talk to me. Every decision that is made is on me. I’m responsible for it. I’m the one that is guiding this. If you’re looking for a head on a stick take mine. But I am absolutely 100 per cent confident that we are in a much better place in all areas of the club today than we were when I started.”
And what about player reinforcements? Spurs are said to still have irons in the transfer fire with seven days to go in the January window, but time is running out. When asked about additional players coming in, Postecoglou was again cagy, implying player acquisition was not his remit, but again stating that a few new players can help the current squad as they manage this difficult period.
“It just depends. It depends on the player, it depends on how they fit in to what we do. It’s not just about bringing in another body, but yeah, there is still no doubt we need to help these players because we’ve still got some significant games in the next two or three weeks before we get players back.”
Tottenham kick off against Leicester City on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. UK. The match is, inexplicably for a Sunday game, not televised in the UK, but is broadcast on USA Network in the Colonies and streamed on nbcsports.com.
