Tottenham Hotspur

Mauricio Pochettino: 'We can cope without Toby Alderweireld'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 12 December 2017

Pochettino: 'We can cope without Alderweireld'

Mauricio Pochettino admits that, while being without defender Toby Alderweireld for another two months is a blow, he has the players to cope with such a big absence.

Mauricio Pochettino has called on his Tottenham Hotspur players to step up in the absence of Toby Alderweireld after the centre-back was ruled out for a further two months.

The Belgium international, a key component at the back for the Lilywhites, will not return to action before February due to a hamstring strain suffered at the beginning of November.

Spurs boss Pochettino is confident that he has adequate replacements to step up in the coming weeks, with key games against Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal approaching, while also revealing that a new contract has been offered to Alderweireld.

"I think with him or without him we win and we lose. Of course the manager always wants all the players to be fit to play like [Victor] Wanyama, Danny Rose or [Erik] Lamela before.

"Always you are going to miss the players that are not fit but that is normal. But for me football is about the team, it is not about individual players.

"Of course some players have more influence on the team but I think we have a good enough squad and players that can play, and win or lose it is about the quality of performance if we miss one or another player.

"The contract? That is his decision, it's our decision, he still has two years on his contract, and we are looking forward to him playing and to him staying here. The players are showing their commitment. I am so calm how Daniel Levy drives everything and manages the contracts of the players and yes I am not worried or concerned about this."

Alderweireld featured 15 times for Tottenham prior to picking up the injury during the 3-1 win over Real Madrid last month.