POCHETTINO HAILS MIGHTY MOUSA
MAURICIO POCHETTINO always reaches for the same word when asked about Mousa Dembele. ‘Genius, no?’ shrugged Pochettino after Dembele’s sparkling display against Arsenal took the Tottenham manager back to a familiar theme. ‘I always say Mousa, in my book, you will be one of my genius players I have been lucky to meet.’ Also in this exalted bracket are Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan de la Pena. An exclusive club. ‘I would have loved to have taken him at 18,’ said Pochettino of Dembele. ‘He would have been one of the best players in the world.’ In Turin, against Juventus, on Tuesday, Dembele produced another sublime exhibition of midfield control. The Belgian won the ball and passed it effortlessly, forged past opponents and set the tempo as Spurs fought back from two down to earn a draw. ‘Play stronger against the bigger teams and you will receive a quicker compliment,’ quipped Dembele, after the Arsenal game. ‘I feel good all season. Except when I was injured.’ While his talent has never been in question his fitness has, and injuries have diluted his rhythm and consistency. Since he arrived in English football, at Fulham in 2010, there have been 46 recorded injuries, most relatively minor. Of 215 Premier League games since his move to Tottenham, he has started only 123. It goes some way to explaining the frustrations of Les Ferdinand, who worked with him as a coach before Pochettino arrived in 2014. ‘I’ll be honest, I’ve been disappointed with Mousa,’ Ferdinand told Belgian website Omnisport. ‘He’s suffered a few injuries and hasn’t hit the heights I thought he was going to hit. ‘I really thought he would be the next player to leave Spurs for Real Madrid. ‘When he plays, you can see how important he is.’ For the last couple of years, it has been a mysterious foot problem proving difficult to diagnose. He underwent surgery in May in a bid to clear it up, but there have also been hip injuries, which is why Pochettino has taken care with the 30-year-old. Finally, however, there are signs that he may be back to his best form as the season enters its most vital phase.