Tottenham Hotspur are arguably having their worst period under the leadership of Mauricio Pochettino right now. The Lilywhites have failed to win their last three matches in all competitions, one of which ended in a humiliating 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich. Therefore, securing a win against Crvena Zvezda will be imperative as they look to recover their season.
In this article, we will talk about three things Pochettino needs to do to ensure that his team returns to winning ways.
Start with both Eriksen and Son
Pochettino needs to field his strongest possible eleven despite the quality of the opposition and the fact that they have a key fixture against Liverpool on the weekend. Christian Eriksen, in particular, missed the last game with a dead leg. He is a possibility to start, and Poch must risk him as the Dane is a significantly better creative outlet when compared to the likes of Dele Alli and Erik Lamela.
Son Heung-Min must also start, after starting on the bench in the game against Watford. The South Korean international made quite an impact after coming on as a substitute, notably hitting the bar. His intricate movements and excellent combination with the likes of Eriksen and Harry Kane could help Tottenham secure a comfortable win against Crvena.
Persist with a three-man backline
After a horror show against Watford, one would expect Pochettino to drift away from a three-man backline. However, that is something he really shouldn’t do as Crvena are known for their aggressive, high press. That means the Serbians will look to disrupt Tottenham’s flow in midfield and prevent them from dominating the game.
Therefore, keeping hold of possession could be significant. And that’s where the three-man setup in defence could come in handy. The presence of an extra midfielder in the potential 3-5-2 would allow Spurs the numerical superiority in the middle third of the pitch. As a result, their ball retention will significantly improve while it will also make it easier for them to evade Crvena’s second line of press.
Start with a holding midfielder
While deploying an extra midfielder will be imperative to provide more efficiency during possession phases, that slot should be designated to a holding midfielder. Harry Winks or Eric Dier are ideal candidates to occupy that role, with the likes of Tanguy Ndombele and Eriksen operating in an advanced position.
The holding midfielder can drop back in defence and act as the auxiliary centre-back, which will not only provide the defenders with an additional passing option but also make them much more resilient at the back.
