Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Victor Wanyama and Erik Lamela rejected the chance to join the Tottenham squad for their Champions League clash against Real Madrid tomorrow night (Tuesday).
Midfield anchorman Wanyama and winger Lamela are closing in on first-team returns after lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Manager Pochettino admitted that neither of the pair were fit for selection against the Champions League holders but were invited to fly out to Spain in support of the team.
They turned down the opportunity but the suspended Dele Alli did not and is part of the travelling party even though he is not fit to play for the third of Spurs’ six Champions League group matches.
“Dele wanted to come and stay with the team,” Pochettino told the official Spurs Twitter account on the flight to Spain this afternoon. “We have some injured players like Lamela still recovering and Wanyama at the training ground. They prefer to stay there.
“We invite them to come and stay with the group because I think it is an important game and to have the possibility to stay all together.”
????? More from Mauricio on our team news ahead of @realmadrid, including an update on @dele_official who has also travelled with the team. pic.twitter.com/iahyikkXAf
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 16, 2017
OPINION
It is fascinating that Pochettino has decided to go public with the revelation that Wanyama and Lamela chose not to fly out to support the team in their biggest match of the season so far. Alli, by contrast, is out in Madrid despite also being unavailable for selection. Perhaps the England international feels more part of the group as he is a regular in the first team, while Wanyama and Lamela have been out injured for two and 12 months respectively. Pochettino almost appeared miffed that the Kenyan and Argentine rejected his invitation. A team-first ethos is a massive issue for the Argentine, as he attempts to whip up the team spirit and assemble a title challenge.