When Tottenham Hotspur crashed out of the FA Cup, it was likely a blessing in disguise. Spurs Manager Mauricio Pochettino had to focus on the Premier League title first, making the top four at least, and then Europa League was of tertiary concern. There was really no room for concern for the FA Cup.
Today, Spurs were walloped big time by Borussia Dortmund in Europa League competition. BVB looked like one of the best teams in Europe. Of course they did; they were facing the Spurs J.V. or junior varsity. There were lots of B-teamers and reserves in that lineup Pochettino started today.
Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele, Erik Lamela and Kyle Walker were left out of the starting XI today vs Dortmund. Pochettino did not apologize for his team selection after the game last week and we explained his rationale today ahead of the second leg.
Pochettino said: “Our mentality needs to be right. We need to show last Thursday was an accident. We need to fight and show we believe we can win the game.”
The Spurs boss also wants his players to keep dreaming about the title, saying: “There are eight games to play. It’s important to dream and to build in your mind that you can win.
“In the way the team show energy and played it is because of all of them. The thinking for this game is not about Sunday against Bournemouth, but to turn the tie. We have to try.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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