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Hoddle: Sissoko needs to improve

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Glenn Hoddle has claimed that midfielder Moussa Sissoko “needs to improve” if he is to claim a regular spot in Tottenham’s starting lineup.

Sissoko has been one of Spurs’ standout players this season, stepping in after injuries to Eric Dier and Harry Winks and eventually cementing the defensive midfield spot in Mauricio Pochettino’s team.

The French international has made nine appearances so far in the Champions League, making 1.9 key tackles per game. In the Premier League, meanwhile, Sissoko completed 86.7% of his passes from 29 appearances in the top flight.

Speaking to Football.London, however, Hoddle said that while Sissoko has improved, he still needs to work on some aspects of his game to ensure that he does not lose his spot in Pochettino’s side.

“How can I put it? He’s improved, of course he has. It’s a tough one,” the 61-year-old said. “He has improved and he’s had a great season for him.

“I still see a lot of things that he misses out on and doesn’t do and for me as a midfield player there’s a lot of things he needs to improve on to be in that first XI for Tottenham in the coming future.”

OPINION

It’s been a fantastic season for Sissoko and it would be no surprise at all to see him start the Champions League final against Liverpool next Saturday. He has become a real workhorse in the Spurs midfield and Pochettino will definitely admire the way he has stepped up this season and made the defensive midfield role his own, putting in countless stellar performances to help the North London club get to where they are now. Overall, the French international has made 42 appearances for Spurs this term, which shows just how reliable he has been in the face of key injuries to the likes of Winks and Dier. It will be interesting to see what sort of role he plays next season, when the aforementioned duo will be back and fully fit. One thing is for sure, though. Sissoko has definitely played his part in the 2018/19 campaign and whatever the outcome of the Champions League final, he can hold his head high after contributing a great deal to his side in recent months.

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