Pochettino defends team selection vs Dortmund

[mawspurs]

Mauricio Pochettino insists he does not regret fielding a weakened team despite Borussia Dortmund thrashing Tottenham 3-0 in the Europa League last-16.

Read the full article at Irish News

 

[18Klinsmann]

I would have fielded a similar team given our league position, but the stakes are really huge at this stage of one of the most exciting Spurs seasons I can remember.
If things go according to plan the rested players will perform on Sunday, we beat Villa and will be back on track to bag a medal for the first time in PL history. If we fail to beat Villa, however, we have gone four games without a win, will be facing "same old Spurs" headlines and will be moving towards widespread panic at the thought of another Thursday-Sunday schedule with a must-win Sunday game.
No matter what happens I support Poch's decision to risk a beating in Dortmund. Had it been a semifinal I would have fielded the strongest possible team, but I think he got it right even though it means we are all but out of the EL. All we need now is three points on Sunday while Spammers, United and the Gooners hopefully play hard-fought FA cup draws featuring a handful of lenghty suspensions

 

[vuzp]

IMHO when i saw the Team last night i was thinking they would do a job for us but Dortmund done to us what we have done to teams this season and it was one of them games but it has to be a win on Sunday or it will be all doom and gloom here Sunday evening.

 

[ginola007]

Our goal is to play in the CL next season. We can achieve that by winning the Europa League. To do that, however, we have to beat not only Dortmund, but 3 more top teams beside. Giving our league standing, the path to CL is easier if reach top 4 (top 3, to be safe) in the PL. Hence, Poch's selection is fully justified, especially as our performances against West Ham and Arsenal indicated, perhaps for the first time this season, a touch of fatigue.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I was annoyed he played such a strong side and brought on more first teamers

 

[Roscilous]

It wasn't Poch's selection, but the lack of quality in the squad. The first XI can't play every week, and I'd rather win the league than risk slipping down the table. Not only does finishing in the top four mean Champions League next season, but it means one or more of Chelsea, Man Utd or Liverpool will not. That means we can try to improve the squad and stay where we are in the next few years. I remember Hazard said he chose Chelsea over us because they pipped us to CL that season they won it.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

At the business end of the season, you have to play your strongest eleven.

 

[Chris_D]

Losing by three goals is never fun but let's have a moment of brutal honesty here: Dortmund are a very good team. If we'd played Kane and Dier from the start I don't think we would have beaten them. We couldn't play Alli and we normally rotate the full backs so I don't think we picked a very weak team, we just came up against a really good side. I was hoping we could go all the way but I hope we learn from it, we're an evolving team not yet the finished article.