Tottenham blow as star player ruled out through injury

While the Viola will perhaps understandably ring the changes, Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino insists his team will be as strong as possible when they take to the field at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Thursday evening.

After a sensational win against Manchester City last weekend at the Etihad Stadium, Tottenham must shift their focus on the Europa League where they meet Fiorentina in the round of 32 tie. The likes of Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Aldereiweld have excelled in defence, whilst they have been well-protected by Eric Dier and Moussa Dembele sitting just in front of them.

“We need to assess Hugo during the week to see if he is available next Thursday, but for the first leg against Fiorentina he is out, and he will miss the game against Palace, too”. The movement of the Spurs attack will also be something they will need to watch out for, particularly with Eriksen pulling the strings in the no. 10 role. It will always impact, Hugo is our captain and it is a very important period for us but how it is important, we know now we have a squad and we believe that Michel is a very good, top goalkeeper too, and we believe in him and trust in him.

Mills, also a regular radio pundit for the BBC, said: “I’m sticking my neck on the line and tipping Tottenham to win the Premier League”. It is a very different team to last season, a different game completely.

The Italians’ coach, Paulo Sousa, compared this tie to a Champions League match and Pochettino added: “I agree, because of the level our teams have shown”. “Players have come into their squad who are giving more and they’ve managed to rotate throughout the season while maintaining very high levels, and that’s important. Yes, you could call them favourites”.

“However, Tottenham have not played against a team like ours, so we need to use this element to our advantage”.

“We need to work next season to try and play in the Champions League”, he said.

“But we also think the qualification is won over two games, not only in one”.