For Premier League managers, there can be few better summaries of the sentiment that they are forever fighting a losing battle to please than in the simultaneous recent lambasting of both Marcelo Bielsa and Jose Mourinho.
One has too little understanding of the hazards of expansive football. The other focuses on them too much. Criticism of Bielsa followed the 6-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, but Leeds have since beaten Burnley 1-0 and thrashed West Brom 5-0. Mourinho would dearly love a similar vindication of his own approach against the Whites on Saturday.
Tottenham have had the benefit of a six-day break following the postponement of Wednesday evening’s game against Fulham due to a coronavirus outbreak in Scott Parker’s squad.
The north Londoners were unhappy at the lack of communication which led to the game being called off just hours before kick-off, with Mourinho ironically nodding to the “best league in the world” on social media as he sat awaiting the announcement.
The Portuguese will be cheered by the extra rest, however, particularly as he has a handful of injury concerns in attack.
Tottenham team news
The Spurs boss has confirmed Gareth Bale will be out “for a few weeks” with a calf problem, though he would have been unlikely to start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday anyway. The Welshman has made just one Premier League start in the first half of the season, leading to reports in Spain that Real Madrid could even recall him early from his loan spell.
The continued absence of Giovani Lo Celso poses a more pertinent tactical conundrum. The Argentine is yet to recover having suffered a hamstring injury in the recent 2-0 defeat to Leicester City. “Gio will not be fit,” Mourinho said on Tuesday. “I don’t know how long he will be out, I believe that he will not be playing in this period of Christmas and New Year for sure.”
There are still concerns over Lucas Moura’s fitness levels and the Brazilian would not have played against Fulham had the game gone ahead. Carlos Vinicius has an unspecified injury and isn’t expected to make the bench this weekend.
Davinson Sanchez, Ben Davies and Matt Doherty all started the 1-1 draw against Wolves, while Harry Winks was also given a rare start at Molineux. All four could drop back down to the bench as Spurs look to put the full depth of their impressive squad to use.
Mourinho will have one eye on next week’s EFL Cup semi-final but, having been handed as kind a draw as possible against Brentford, he will still need Spurs to be at full strength as they look to end a run of four league games without a win.
Predicted Tottenham XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Sissoko, Hojbjerg, Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son, Kane
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