Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester City this weekend in a difficult game in the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho’s men still harbour ambitions of qualifying for the Champions League but sit six points behind Frank Lampard’s Chelsea in fourth.
City have been in excellent form, not losing any of their last five games, and are currently the nearest challengers to league leaders Liverpool, even if they do sit a staggering 16 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s men.
This weekend, then, they are unlikely to be feeling generous; Spurs will have to turn up and be at their very best if they are to take all three points.
Football FanCast has taken a look at the team that Mourinho should select.
Hugo Lloris is back and is the No.1 goalkeeper so he will surely play between the sticks.
Given the threat posed by this City side and the various ways that they can hurt Spurs, shifting the formation to five-at-the-back, including two wing-backs, makes logical sense. In possession, they will essentially be playing 3-4-3; out of it, they will be playing what is a 5-4-1.
In defence, then, Serge Aurier needs to play on the right given his love of bombing up and down the flank, with Ryan Sessegnon on the left. It is a tall order for the ex-Fulham man to play in the role but he has the attributes required and one must consider the possibility of Danny Rose’s departure in this transfer window.
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Thus, in defence, they can utilise a centre-back trio of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Japhet Tanganga. The latter has made a real impression in recent weeks, playing 90 minutes against both Liverpool and Watford, while the two Belgians have long been a partnership.
In midfield, the selection is more difficult. Eric Dier has to play as the recognised defensive midfielder that will surely be necessary against City and pairing him with one of Giovani Lo Celso, Harry Winks or Tanguy Ndombele makes the most sense.
Lo Celso has been in excellent form and drew praise from Mourinho after the FA Cup tie with Southampton – Spurs actually signed him on a permanent basis on Tuesday – and so he ought to play but he is a more forward-thinking midfield player, so stationing him on the right flank feels like a solid defensive decision, thus allowing Winks to partner Dier.
Ndombele has been on the bench for Spurs’ last two outings and there is a natural question mark over his fitness.
That leaves Son Heung-Min to play on the left flank with Lucas Moura through the middle.
While the Brazilian has not scored in the league since December, he is the natural option and is also full of running both defensively and offensively.
There remains hope at the club that Krzysztof Piatek can be signed from AC Milan this month, per sources, and if that deal is pulled off, expect the Poland international to make his debut instead.
Steven Bergwijn, too, is set to join the club from PSV Eindhoven but it feels a gamble to throw him in at the deep end against the Premier League champions; if he is in the squad, he is likely to be on the bench.
Meanwhile, sources have given FFC the lowdown on Spurs’ striker hunt!
