LONDON • Such was Mauricio Pochettino's confidence in Dele Alli adapting to a "false nine" role that Tottenham were not going to reinforce their front line, even after the ankle injury suffered by Harry Kane and Son Heung-min's absence due to the Asian Cup.
However, the Spurs manager's plans not to spend in the January transfer market were thrown into disarray on Tuesday night after scans confirmed his worst fears.
Alli suffered a hamstring injury during last Sunday's 2-1 Premier League win at Fulham and the club revealed he would now undergo rehabilitation and is expected to return to training in early March.
The midfielder, who is set to miss a host of key games including the the Champions League last-16 first leg against Borussia Dortmund and a league match at Chelsea, tweeted he was "gutted" with the diagnosis.
He said: "I will do everything in my power to return as quick as possible. Thank you for the messages."
The 22-year-old's six-week spell on the sidelines comes at the worst time for Spurs, with the club looking to defend their one-goal lead going into today's second leg of their League Cup semi-final with Chelsea.
They will travel to Stamford Bridge without Kane, who is out till March, Son and Alli, and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson felt now was "a good time" to play Tottenham.
He told Sky: "If you could say before the game that you can pull out three players from that team, then it would be Kane, Alli and Son."
But Eric Dier insisted Spurs could not feel "sorry for ourselves" and it would not be an excuse if Pochettino's men fail in their attempt to lift their first piece of silverware since 2008.
Insisting the team were not "sulking about it", the midfielder said: "Every team gets injuries, we have to deal with it."
There was better news as they bid to reach their first final in four years while exacting a measure of revenge against the team that beat them in the 2015 League Cup final.
Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama have returned to training along with Lucas Moura who, after a three-game absence, is expected to feature in Alli's absence.
There were also reports of unrest in their London rivals' dressing room.
Manager Maurizio Sarri publicly questioned his men's mental strength and revealed it was "extremely difficult" to motivate them in the wake of last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Arsenal.
While Sky pundit Gary Neville said on his weekend podcast it was now "inevitable that Sarri would get the sack at some point", Marcos Alonso has backed his boss and challenged his teammates to prove they have what it takes to arrest their slide, starting with Spurs.
Amid suggestions that several players are unhappy with his tactics, including playing N'Golo Kante and Eden Hazard out of position while favouring Jorginho, Alonso claimed the Blues manager's criticism was justified.
The Spain defender said: "When you lose, you learn. We have to perform again (against Spurs)."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
CHELSEA V TOTTENHAM
Singtel TV Ch111 & StarHub Ch202, tomorrow, 3.45am
Sport > Football > Football League Arsene Wenger hails Marcelo Bielsa's sportsmanship after Leeds United boss gifts Aston Villa a goal. Former Arsenal manager believes Bielsa's decision to
Wenger hails Leeds' Bielsa for sportsmanship in Villa draw
Telus profit slips; tops rivals on new wireless subscribers Open this photo in gallery: A Telus store in Toronto's Beach neighbourhood is seen in this file photo.
Stipe Plazibat - Wikipedia
We want Lionel Messi to always be at Camp Nou: Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu Description: Lionel Messi's current FC Barceloan deal runs until 2021, the same year he turns 34, but the Argentinian has been in brilliant form again this season.
Primera División » News » 'We want Messi to always be at
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City must beat Liverpool on Thursday (Friday morning, AEDT) to sustain their English Premier League title bid. City shook off consecutive defeats to coast past
City must beat Liverpool to stay in title race: Guardiola
Qatar coach Felix Sanchez has vowed to "isolate" his players from politics at the Asian Cup, which is taking place in the United Arab Emirates during a diplomatic crisis between the countries. The tournament represents the first visit by the Qatari national side to the UAE since the beginning of a
Occipital neuralgia is a condition in which the nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp, called the occipital nerves, are inflamed or injured. You might feel pain in
What are the tear marks on a cheetahs eyes for - answers.com
Too many missed chances did in Cincinnati this time in a 5-3 loss to the Giants, and the Reds settled for a split of their traditional doubleheader Tuesday night in which they wore their home
Missed chances leave Reds feeling empty | MLB.com
LONDON: Brighton moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the second successive season as goals from Anthony Knockaert and Jurgen Locadia clinched a 2-1 win over Derby on Saturday. Chris Hughton's side have been sucked into relegation danger in the Premier League after six games without a win.
Brighton Edge Past Derby County To Enter FA Cup Quarter
Pochettino happy at Spurs but would 'have to listen' to any Real Madrid approach UK Sport | Published: Jun 1, 2018 The Tottenham boss only signed a new five-year contract last month.
Pochettino has reached a jumping-off point with Tottenham
Football: Man Utd legends thrash Bayern in 1999 charity
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denies their FA Cup exit has given them an advantage over Premier League title rivals Manchester City and Tottenham. Defeat to Wolves on Monday left the league
Bayern braced for Klopp reunion at Liverpool - sports.yahoo.com
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview that he wants Lionel Messi to remain linked to the club forever. who was always at Santos. We want Messi to
'We want Messi to always be at Barca' - Bartomeu
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of Oldham Athletic, the club announced on Monday.
Man United great Scholes appointed manager of Oldham
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian captain Thiago Silva has been granted French citizenship, he announced on Twitter on Friday (March 15).. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PSG captain Thiago Silva receives French citizenship
05.30.2019 Football: Spalletti Leaves Inter Milan Despite Securing Champions League Spot, Conte Set To Take Over. Milan: Luciano Spalletti has left Inter Milan, the Serie A club announced on Thursday, with former Italy manager Antonio Conte set to be announced as the club''s new coach.
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen