Janssen is no worse than other reserve strikers, says Pochettino
Spurs manager puts Dutchman’s problems down to lack of playing time, writes
Mauricio Pochettino has read the column inches, listened to the radio phone-ins and watched the television pundits debate whether or not Tottenham Hotspur can cope without Harry Kane.
A common argument is that Spurs should have signed a better deputy to Kane and that neither Son Heung-min nor Vincent Janssen is a good enough backup option for a club fighting for a top-four Premier League finish and the FA Cup.
Son, who is expected to be given the chance to fill Kane’s boots against Southampton tomorrow, has scored 14 goals in all competitions, while summer signing Janssen has netted five times – one of which came from open play.
Janssen has largely been written off as a flop after arriving for £17million, but Pochettino does not feel the Dutchman’s efforts have been significantly worse than the second and third-choice strikers of Tottenham’s rivals.
Michy Batshuayi, who cost Chelsea £33million, has scored five goals, while Arsenal’s £17million signing, Lucas Perez, has played fewer minutes than Janssen and netted seven times.
English backup strikers have not fared much better, with Wayne Rooney also on five goals, Daniel Sturridge on six and Marcus Rashford on seven. The Manchester United duo have both played significantly more minutes than Janssen.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud has much better numbers than Janssen, over a comparable number of minutes played, although the Frenchman is still behind Son on 12 goals.
“It’s easy to say we need better players on the bench behind Harry Kane, but it’s complicated for offensive players who are behind Diego Costa, Harry Kane, Alexis Sánchez or Zlatan Ibrahimovic at big teams,” said Pochettino.
“Players are training hard every day to try and find their best form, but every weekend they do not find too much possibility to play. Always we say they need to be professional, but they are only human and it is very tough to come in every day and it’s complicated. We are happy because the players we have are very professional and provide good quality.”
On Janssen, 22, whose first goal from open play came against Millwall last week, Pochettino added: “You see different players arrive this season, there’s a lot of examples … when you have a main striker like Harry Kane, it’s difficult for a second or third striker to take his place.
“He’s very young and came from Holland, a different league, the adaptation is difficult but he’s in the process to learn and improve. It’s only his first season in England.
“We are happy with him. It’s true that in some periods of the season his form was down. He needed a wake-up to be reminded that the possibility of playing could arrive. I’m happy with him and all the players, but I understand they are not happy with some situations.
“He is motivated and confident. He is feeling a bit of relief after his first goal from open play and that is important. I am happy in the way that he trained this week too.”
Kane’s expected comeback date is in six weeks’ time, though the striker has talked of returning sooner. Pochettino, however, is not worried by predictions of another end-of-season collapse for Tottenham without Kane.
“We will see,” he said. “But it was good last season to finish badly and finish third. It was the best position in the history of the Premier League for Tottenham. I hope we finish badly and maybe win a trophy or finish second!
“We will miss Harry. But what can we do now? We can trust in the players that can replace him. We are fully confident in the squad.” with the assist, and also to score a goal.
“He’s showing that he has a great impact for us. I hope to finish in the right way this season, and to try to win but, for sure, Cesc, this season is showing to be a great professional but, above all, a great player.”
Conte acknowledged that Fabregas’s work-rate and commitment had rubbed off on the rest of his squad.
“I’m very pleased to see that in him, his commitment and workrate,” Conte said.
“This season he faced a new situation. Cesc, in the past, has always played every single game. It’s not easy to change.
“But, for sure, Cesc showed me that he is not only a great player but a great person.
“I think, this season, he has improved a lot in all aspects and, for me, he is a really, really important player.”