Tottenham Hotspur made significant changes to their midfield department this summer, bringing in Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso. Ndombele has already put in some excellent performances and looks like a perfect fit for the squad.
Lo Celso, however, is yet to make any telling difference, accumulating only 44 minutes of league football so far. In this article, we will talk about the chances of this Argentine ace finding success under Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur this season.
Eriksen’s prolonged stay at Spurs
Lo Celso was initially thought to be a replacement for Christian Eriksen. The Dane was linked with a move to Manchester United and Real Madrid. He was destined to leave north London but a move away from the club never really materialised.
This could serve as a massive blow for Lo Celso. The ex-PSG star is more or less a creative midfielder like Eriksen. And it could create a conflict, especially because Eriksen can also feature as an attacking midfielder as well as a number eight.
It really comes as no surprise that Lo Celso has struggled to find regular game-time so far this season.
Winks’ rise to prominence and Alli’s return from injury
Harry Winks has groomed into reliable midfield option for Pochettino, of late. Although he appears tentative against quality opposition at times, his composure and tenacity make him an ideal fit for Spurs’ tactical setup. And with Eric Dier struggling, Winks has featured in all four of Tottenham’s matches this season.
At the same time, the young midfielder has taken away the extra midfield slot that is extracting a significant toll on Lo Celso’s first-team opportunities. Also, Dele Alli has also returned to full fitness after a long injury layoff.
The English international, much like Lo Celso, is predominantly an attacking midfielder but can also feature in wider attacking roles. Hence, it’s even more unlikely that the Argentine will be getting any chance to make an impression at Tottenham anytime soon this season.
Injuries are the only hope
Tottenham Hotspur are no stranger when it comes to experiencing injury crisis. The Lilywhites had several midfielders sidelined during the second half of last season. As a result, they had to rely on the services of the much-maligned Moussa Sissoko.
Lo Celso too will be hoping for an injury setback to either Eriksen or Alli (as morbid as that sounds) that could seriously revamp his first-team opportunities at Spurs this season. It could also make him the creator-in-chief for the north-London giants.
In the meantime, however, the 23-year-old has to remain patient and make sure he makes the most out of any opportunity he gets during the early parts of the campaign. Besides, we can expect the midfielder to play a more prominent role in the UEFA Champions League.
