Across all competitions, Tottenham Hotspur have won just twice in seven tries. Their 2019-20 resume now includes a crash out of the League Cup in their very first match of the competition, a third round loss to minnows Colchester United on Tuesday night.
Afterward Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said that criticism of his team is deserving, and it’s very hard to disagree with that statement.
“During my five years it has all been praise for Tottenham and now we deserve to be criticized, and we accept that,” Pochettino said.
“Sometimes critics can make you realize you need to wake up. We need to have the possibility to evolve. I am so relaxed because you cannot live together in happiness because up and downs happen. In football, more than in life.”
Up next is a visit from Southampton, and here is the team news for both sides this Saturday, starting with Spurs.
Giovani Lo Celso (hip) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) remain out, and both continue working on their rehabilitation. Aside from that, Pochettino has no further injury concerns ahead of the visit from his former club.
Switching over to the visitors, Alex McCarthy is a doubt due to a slight muscle problem. However, winger Moussa Djenepo remains a long term injury absentee who is out indefinitely.
Said Saints boss Ralph Hasenhüttl: “Only the long-term injured players, like Moussa Djenepo, are still out.”
“Alex McCarthy has a little problem with his muscle. So maybe we take another goalkeeper at the weekend.
“We took a few new pictures [of Djenepo’s injury]. There isn’t more to say. He’s still out. We don’t know how long but in the moment there is no chance to play for him.
“He’s had a very good impact in our team and everyone loves him. He’s a good guy and it isn’t easy for him in the moment. But that’s football.”
Southampton at Tottenham Hotspur FYIs
Kickoff: Sat. Sept 28, 3pm, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Google Result Probability: Tottenham Hotspur win 67% Draw 21% Southampton win 12%
Odds via Bet America: Tottenham win -233 Draw +354 Sheffield United win +650
Form Guide: Tottenham Hotspur LWDLD Southampton LWDWL
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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