Poch is hit by crock chaos

Poch’s crocks

TOTTENHAM face a Champions League crisis tonight with SEVEN key players missing.

Christian Eriksen (right) is the latest blow after the playmaker failed to travel to Cyprus yesterday for their clash with Apoel Nicosia due to illness.

Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen are suspended for the Group H game while Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele, Victor Wanyama and Erik Lamela are all injured.

But boss Mauricio Pochettino said: “I am not a manager who cries because a player cannot play.

“We have many injuries and two suspended. And then Christian was ill last night. But it’s about the team, the squad, quality. It’s not an excuse to have

some players out of the squad. We have a strong squad and this is a good opportunity to show it.

“Of course we miss the players who are ill or injured. You want everyone available.

“Christian is a very important player for us but we need to move on.

“We must win – it’s so important for our future in the Champions League.”

Apoel have failed to score in five of their last six matches. But Spurs then face back-to-back games with European champions Real Madrid.

Defender Ben Davies says his team-mates need to calm down if they want to succeed in Europe.

The Welshman says they were too attack-minded when they went out in last season’s group stage.

“It’s a totally different level of football and we have to be able to adjust,” said the full-back.

“We can’t always go gung-ho against sides like maybe we do in the Premier League.

“Sometimes you have to be able to soak up pressure and then hit teams on the break.”