Pochettino reminds us Spurs have to manage player game time

Mauricio Pochettino has told us before that 30-year-old (31 next July) Mousa Dembélé will never be 100% fit again and he was taken off in most games last season to make way for 21-year-old (22 next February) understudy Harry Winks. He has again repeated the difficulty he has with the Belgians fitness again to the Guardian.

"I think after I’m here at the club for three seasons, you trust in what I say and our fans trust in our decisions. It’s a private matter, a medical matter, and it’s so difficult to speak about – first of all, because I don’t have the vocabulary in English to explain everything properly and then, to make a mistake, is so easy. It’s better to be cautious about what I say.”

If we go back a few years he had hip problems and it may well be something to do with this that is the long term problem. He has also had a foot injury and muscle problems. If that is a hip issue then one would have to be concerned for the future of Erik Lamela who is on his way back from double hip operations.. Once he get a fully fit and starts playing, how long are we going to have to take it easy with him?

Fans who called for his inclusion in hindsight against Swansea City weren't taking into account he had already played two games that week. With a crowded fixture list coming up in October and November his playing schedule has to be worked out well in advance, he can't play all the time in all the games. Which ones then do you leave him out of?

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