Mauricio Pochettino: It’s crazy to have international break at this stage

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is still hoping of adding a player to his squad who can play in “the second line of offence” before the summer transfer window closes.

“It’s hard because some players that are going to the national team, some players will play and others [will] not”, Pochettino said after the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at White Hart Lane on Saturday. “Very full of football, before with the national team and now completely with Chelsea”.

Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker was one of Pochettino’s team expected to be heading off on worldwide duty with England next weekend for the first 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

He concluded: “It’s very important how we manage the squad. It’s important how to manage them so they are fit to compete all season”.

But, because he’s the Tottenham manager, he felt obliged to take a step back and go as far as to say that his side “played much better” which is erroneous at best. It is crazy. It is crazy, crazy that we stop again the competition, and [the players] are involved with the national team again.

“We’re happy. It was a big issue, his injury”. “I am available always to receive him here if he needs some advice or to talk to me about the players”. “He’s not available to play [for France], he’ll stay with us in the next two weeks”. The first two seasons, yes, it didn’t happen as I wished collectively, but the challenges have helped me make my way.

“To think we’ll be playing Champions League football at Wembley with that massive pitch in such a brilliant stadium – it will be incredible and I can’t wait to see the Spurs fans fill out that stadium”.

“I can understand our fans’ reaction – it’s a very good thing in football”.

Collymore, though, believes that Tottenham need to sign players before Wednesday’s deadline in order to flesh the squad out a little more.