Spurs stuck at Wembley for FIVE more games
TOTTENHAM chairman Daniel Levy last night apologised to fans after conceding they will not be in their new stadium until the new year. A statement confirmed they will be staging FIVE more home games at Wembley: Chelsea next month, then Southampton, Burnley, Bournemouth and Wolves in December. The first possible League game at the new ground would be Manchester United on January 13, but Levy revealed that there is still no definitive timetable to open the 62,000-capacity stadium. Levy, who also revealed the club’s bank loan had increased to £637million, said: ‘In the light of factors completely outside our control, contractors missing deadlines and possible future unforeseen issues, we are naturally being cautious in respect of our timetable for our test events and official opening game.’
IF Hugo Lloris defended his goal as effectively as Mauricio Pochettino defended his keeper yesterday, Tottenham’s Champions League campaign would not be in such a mess.
The Spurs manager was in no mood to even entertain the criticism levelled at the Frenchman, irrespective of a season that has seen him look more vulnerable than at any other point in his six years at the club.
His game- changing red card against PSV Eindhoven in the 2-2 draw on Wednesday followed a key error against Barcelona in the 4-2 defeat at the start of the month. Each has raised eyebrows about a player who has previously been so dependable.
Both mistakes came from mistimed surges off his line, which must serve as a concern when Pochettino’s high-line defence relies so heavily on the judgment of their sweeper-keeper.
The club hope the errors are a blip, not a trend, but if there are any private doubts, Pochettino was not showing them ahead of Monday’s massive test against Manchester City at Wembley.
‘For me Hugo is one of the best keepers in the world and he was man of the match (against West Ham) a few days before we played against PSV. Against PSV I think he’s not guilty about the result and for me it wasn’t a sending-off — it was only a yellow card.
‘In the end we drew the game and it puts us in a very difficult situation to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League. But Hugo is an important player for us. In all the games we won he was very important. Then he didn’t play against Watford, Liverpool and Inter, and we lost games. We have short memories.
‘Against West Ham I think the 1-0 victory was because Hugo was unbelievable.’
Tottenham’s disposition in the Premier League is somewhat sunnier than in Europe and, despite sitting fifth, they would overtake City with a win on Monday.
A complication of that fixture being at Wembley is that it comes only 28 hours after the NFL clash between Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars. The pitch could cut up but Pochettino indicated that could work in Tottenham’s favour against City.
‘Maybe it’s good for us because we’re going to face one of the best teams in Europe or in the world,’ he said.
A benefit for Spurs will be the return of Dele Alli, who resumed training this week after a hamstring injury.