Mauricio Pochettino has omitted Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld from his Tottenham squad to face Internazionale on Tuesday night in the Champions League Group B opener in Milan.
The manager, already without the injured Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko, said it was a “technical decision” to leave the two key defenders in London.
Pochettino has faced questions about the fatigue levels of nine of his players who reached the final weekend of the World Cup in Russia. They have mainly related to Harry Kane, the England captain, who has been below par in recent games.
Pochettino has denied any are tired, particularly Kane, who has played virtually every minute of Tottenham’s matches this season and is set to start against Inter. But Pochettino has chosen to rest Trippier and Alderweireld, who went deep into the World Cup with England and Belgium respectively.
“We need to use the whole squad,” Pochettino said. “We came from different circumstances after the World Cup. We have a plan for different players to take rest in different competitions, like the Champions League. It is Kieran and Toby but it might be different players.”
Pochettino also hinted at his impatience over the delays to the new White Hart Lane. The rebuilt stadium will not be ready until November, at the earliest, and Spurs will play each of their Champions League group games at Wembley.
“We are waiting,” Pochettino said. “I hope the stadium is ready as soon as possible. It’s better to have a home and start to play in your own house.”
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