OPINION
Mauricio Pochettino is rightly being hailed as a messiah after overseeing Tottenham’s stunning win over Champions League holders Real Madrid on Wednesday night.
A breathtaking performance of intensity, purpose, energy and flair will live long in the memories of Spurs fans who are starting to dream of glory following a couple of transformative years in which their team have won many plaudits but no trophies.
Yet, it would be ignoring reality to claim that Spurs’ manager has got everything right. Patently, that is not the case, and there was one glaring example midway through the opening period at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Toby Alderweireld pulled up while attempting a sprint, called over the physio and hobbled off the pitch.
It did not just end his involvement for the evening. The Belgium international admitted afterwards he will be out for a “few weeks” with a hamstring injury.
Given that minor sprains require around 21 days of recovery, Alderweireld can be counted out of Spurs’ Premier League clashes against Crystal Palace and Arsenal, as well as their Champions League trip to Dortmund in three weeks.
He is unlikely to play again until 25 November against West Brom at home, at the very earliest.
So, is this just bad luck? The result of an elite player pushing himself to the maximum in a top-level fixture? Of course not.
Alderweireld’s injury was so easily avoidable. As any performance coach worth his salt will tell you, muscle and impact injuries occur when a player has overtrained or overplayed, and not had enough time to rest and recuperate.
It is no coincidence that Alderweireld has started 15 of Spurs’ 16 matches this season, more than any other player in the squad.
Yet, why was he not rested for League Cup defeat to West Ham eight days ago? Pochettino selected a weakened team for a competition he cares little for, but chose to pair his number one centre-back with rising star Juan Foyth, while Jan Vertonghen and Davison Sanchez were either on the bench or given the night off.
The manager should also have given Alderweireld a much-needed breather and paired Dier, who had been on the bench against Liverpool three days earlier, with teenager Foyth.
The Belgium international’s participation in the 3-2 loss – he played the full 90 minutes, as always – will have accumulated his fatigue and possibly contributed to him pulling up against Real.
Tottenham have an embarrassment of riches at centre-back, prompting Jose Mourinho to hail their defence as the best in Europe.
But no-one is more fundamental to the rearguard than the outstanding Toby Alderweireld. He has been back to his best in recent weeks after a slow start to the season, by his sky-high standards, and will be sorely missed.
Tottenham could be about to pay a heavy price for a decision Pochettino got horribly wrong.