Mauricio Pochettino has explained the injury issues Tottenham Hotspur have had ahead of their Champions League game against CSKA Moscow in Russia this evening, with several players not having travelled as the Argentine does not want to take any risks.
Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele picked up muscle injuries during Spurs’ 1-0 win over Sunderland on 18th September and had to be substituted.
Harry Kane also suffered an ankle injury in the game and had to leave White Hart Lane on crutches.
On the other hand, Danny Rose has been sidelined for over a month after picking up a hamstring strain while on international duty with England during the last international break, while summer signing Moussa Sissoko suffered a head injury and had to be withdrawn during Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Middlesbrough at the weekend.
As a result, Pochettino confirmed that the quintet will play no part in the game against CSKA Moscow in Russia.
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“You know that Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele are recovering from minor problems that were suffered in the game against Sunderland”, he said in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“Moussa Sissoko got a problem during the game at Middlesbrough and they can’t play because of that.”
When asked to provide more details on the situation of Dier and Dembele, Pochettino replied: “They are okay, but we don’t want to take a risk.
“We have a lot of games ahead, a very difficult period and then with the national team. We will not take a risk with them.
“They are training well – Eric Dier and Danny Rose are at the same level, we’ll see with Mousa, but why take risks?
"It’s only two days since we played Middlesbrough, it doesn’t make sense to take a risk now.”
Spurs will head into the CSKA Moscow game on the back of three consecutive wins in all competitions.
