Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has left Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier out of his squad for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan.
The two defenders were left at home as Spurs travelled to the San Siro for their opening European fixture of the season.
When asked why the duo were not going to feature against Inter, Pochettino — who seemed tetchy — said only that it was a 'technical decision'.
It is understood that Belgian centre half Alderweireld and England right back Trippier are likely being rested after both had exhausting World Cup campaigns and also featured for their respective countries in the recent international break.
Tottenham will also be without World Cup winner Hugo Lloris and England midfielder Dele Alli on Tuesday.
The club have announced that France goalkeeper Lloris will miss out with a thigh injury and Alli with a hamstring strain.
Fellow midfielder Moussa Sissoko is sidelined by a similar problem.
Spurs tweeted shortly before their pre-match press conference in Milan: "@dele-official (hamstring), Hugo Lloris (thigh) and @MoussaSissoko (hamstring) all remain unavailable due to injury."
All three players missed Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool as a result of their injuries.
Zutbcir
0
Spuds will really suffer this season and Pochetinno is in a win win situation....6 players played at the world cup, 6 key players so sooner or later they will suffer from fatigue and loss of form so not buying players will really come hime to roost...Am sure Pochetinno wanted to beef up the squad but the club had not money and yet he chose to stay simply because he has a ready made excuse for any failures....he has taken Spuds as far as he can, they had 2 chances to win things under him and missed out on both occasions so i think if he has the right offers he will jump ship...just before the squad do the same
Ajax would not sell anyone to Ajax London this past summer, thst is the problem for them, the Spurs.
possi
0
Spurs fans should've had a whip round, to help bring in some fresh new legs.
yuccaJuly
0
What is this fatigue crap Spurs fans/Pundits etc are going on about constantly??? Load of rubbish.
regman
1
Probably is a tactical decision. Trippier is an excellent crosser of the ball but average defender. Looks like he's going to keep it tight at the back.
Sancheknight
0
I know he used to work with Mourinho but this is taking it too far, he'll be gouging eyes next or is that just Vertonghen?
Madonnai
0
The journo's just don't get it , why would any manager want to disclose anything to these liars and job stealing thieves, they are uneducated gossips and only warrant contempt .
Lectures
0
I think he knows he made a huge mistake signing that contract.no money for players for many years.
Zutbcir
0
What will they do without the Ajax guy, Alderweireld? Eriksen also played in Russia!
prospera
0
So much ado about nothing. They're being rested. Sensational journalism at it's best
521Jack
0
He can't find them. They're still looking for Mane
doltish
0
Going to have the best stadium in this and next years Europa league. A well run club would have invested in the squad.
ponderous
0
Here's where buying player's would of come in handy instead of having to rest player's for a champion's league tie because you only have faith in 14 player's!!
yuyuyu
0
All may not be well in coys land
RichardAllen
0
Whats the drama here... Toby has had the same injury for 2 seasons so it makes sense to rest him. Then trippier has looked fatigued since the world cup. Managers in the past had much more authority over their players, these days for one match if a player is not playing its as if its a drama! Daily Mail loves drama.
Lovemessi
0
They are being rested ... it's hardly rocket science
LoveFCB
0
Where's the article on Spurs' crisis and Poch having a meltdown with no players signed, no stadium, no trophies
Madonnai
0
Homeless Spurs drama going on. Tired players?? So early in the season? Pochettino rubbish excuses going on. What happen to we don't need new signing?
iudod33
0
He seems like a nice guy. But being nice does not give you success. Alex Ferguson, Clough and Shankly would have dropped Kane last season when he went above the manager to board to ask for goal given to him.would anyone think any player would have done that if it was Ferguson? He would be rotting in the reserves to be sold in the summer.but that is a great manager this is a caretaker...
Postman
0
Spuds will really suffer this season and Pochetinno is in a win win situation....6 players played at the world cup, 6 key players so sooner or later they will suffer from fatigue and loss of form so not buying players will really come hime to roost...Am sure Pochetinno wanted to beef up the squad but the club had not money and yet he chose to stay simply because he has a ready made excuse for any failures....he has taken Spuds as far as he can, they had 2 chances to win things under him and missed out on both occasions so i think if he has the right offers he will jump ship...just before the squad do the same
west52
0
He`s still hurting from Saturday - I bet he was and still Is furious with his players - I like him .
numeral
0
Poor guys! They're only earning millions each year but they're tired after 3 weeks holiday and have to have some more rest
deduce
0
Just think how many times mourinho was in the DM headlines day after day for benching shaw but yet u only get the odd story here and there about Toby
Costar
0
Strange decision not to have them even on the bench. Poch has been the English sports media's darling for a number of years, but the moment their ardour starts to cool a little he seems to start fraying around the edges.
balcony
0
What's the big deal? Toby has had the same reoccurring injury for 2seasons so being rested. Trippier has looked tired since the world cup,rested. When did resting players become a massive drama exactly?
Savannah
0
Pochettino is becoming Mourinho. And not the championship winning version, but the self centred, stubborn, confrontational version. Couple more bad defeats and the real poch will be out.
completely
0
3 games in 8 days. Obviously resting both for Brighton this weekend. Sanchez and Aurier will both get the start. Spurs need to bounce back in a big way this week after Pool's dominant performance.
Romnick
0
Gone by Christmas. United job in the summer. You heard it here first.
Solimonan
0
Trippier had like 9 good minutes against a dog poop team, once. All of a sudden everybody's pretending like he's Philip Lahm
herdsman
0
What is the fuss about Tripper? He had a few decent minutes in games vs panama , how is he suddenly a top player
Shuntamallett
0
I mean after being turned inside out by Mane multiple times you can understand why he'd leave the overrated Tipper at home.
Odyssey
0
Good idea. Rest up and throw CL games to concentrate on the Premier League so you have a chance of getting into the top 4 so you can ... do it again.
AbhijaiSingh
0
We will win anyway coys
Until you face Barcelona at Camp You and get destroyed.
Ashutosh545
2
Come to camp nou... Then you will feel what happens when you left your key players..
viciousvnmz
0
2 1 to Totenham
Mboy_Swag04
2
Tottenham are the kinda team to come 3rd with only one other competitor in a race.
Mboy_Swag04
0
We will win anyway coys
In ur dreams
Wawbimyz
3
We will win anyway coys