OPINION
Ossie Ardiles has hailed Mauricio Pochettino as a genius for the way he managed Tottenham’s late 1-0 win over Newcastle United, and the Spurs legend is right to heap praise on his compatriot.
The north Londoners left it late to see of their resolute visitors on Saturday lunchtime, but it was a deft piece of squad management that ultimately made the difference.
Pochettino left both Fernando Llorente and Danny Rose on the bench against the Magpies, but both came on to make a positive impact, with the Spaniard in particular laying on the assist for Son Heung-min’s winning strike.
Spurs have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks, and Pochettino has had very little leeway to make any kind of tactical innovations, but the decision to rest Llorente and Rose illustrated the skill set of a manager who is increasingly showing that he can wriggle him and his side out of the tightest of spots.
Taking to Twitter, Tottenham legend Ardiles was quick to praise the current boss, writing: “Super super Spurs moving to 2nd place.
“Big congratulations to the boys @SpursOfficial and a special one to our outstanding Manager.
“Touch of genius to leave [Fernando] Llorente and [Danny] Rose in the bench and bring them on, fresh, when need it. COYS COYS COYS”.
Super super Spurs moving to 2nd place. Big congratulations to the boys @SpursOfficial and a special one to our outstanding Manager. Touch of genius to leave Llorente and Rose in the bench and bring them on, fresh, when need it. COYS COYS COYS
— osvaldo ardiles (@osvaldooardiles) February 2, 2019
Genius may be a little on the hyperbolic side for a manager resting two players, but when you consider the impact those players had, the constraints currently being forced on the manager with regards to personnel, and how much flak Pochettino would have come in for had his side failed to find a way past Newcastle with their only recognised senior striker warming the bench for the majority of the match, and Ardiles’ comments seem a lot more justified.
Pochettino continues to work wonders in north London, and it’s nice to seem him getting the recognition he deserves.