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Pochettino hails Davinson Sanchez's impact at Tottenham

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez in action with Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez in action with Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez

Mauricio Pochettino has hailed Davinson Sanchez’s impact at Tottenham – and he believes the summer signing is still only showing a glimpse of what he could become.

Sanchez became Spurs’ record signing when he arrived from Ajax in August for a fee of up to £42million.

The Colombia international is only 21 years old but he has quickly become a trusted member of the Lilywhites’ rearguard, starting 13 out of 16 matches since the start of September – including all of the Champions League group games.

He has only been on the losing side once, against Arsenal, having been omitted for the back-to-back losses against West Ham and Manchester United last month, and he is yet to be booked.

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“Of course he’s very important for the team. You saw in the games against Dortmund how many times he was one v one with [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang,” said Pochettino.

“How many central defenders can play one v one and escape, and not be tired, and press? It’s ‘if you run then I run because I am so confident in running’. Not too many centre-backs in the world can do this.

“Against Swansea, against [Tammy] Abraham, [you saw] how many times he was one v one, with the ball at his back on the halfway line, and running was not a problem – or against Cristiano Ronaldo, or others. At 21 years old he’s showed he’s so brave. He takes risks but he’s not reckless.

“We expect more from him, but I’m so happy with him. He’s doing very well. He shows more maturity than his age and he’s so aggressive when he’s marking. He’s so focused and concentrated, and then with the ball he’s good.

“But I think he can improve, there’s a massive gap to improve. The potential is massive for him. In only a few months, he’s showing he’s doing fantastic job for us.”

Asked why Sanchez has adapted so quickly and effectively to the demands of the Premier League, when other defenders have struggled in the past, Pochettino replied:

“Because he’s so clever, and he’s very humble and open to learn.

“He’s a player where, when you tell him something, his reaction is to be open and critical with himself – and that is a massive skill for a player. Then the conditions he has are amazing for being one of the best centre-backs in the world.

“He can improve every single aspect – tactics, physical condition, technique. He’s still very young and he arrived so late. He arrived late in the transfer market, without time.

“He had no proper pre-season because he was at Ajax, and then he was playing in the qualifiers for the national team in Colombia and had no time to work with us here.

“Then he arrived back and after a few days he was going to compete and play, and everything was more visual than on the [training] pitch.

“We need one month and a half or two months of pre-season with him, every day, and then it’s sure he’s going to show a different level. I think he’s one of the best today but he has the potential to improve a lot more.”

Sanchez has generally lined up in the centre of Spurs’ three-man defence but was moved out to the right side when Toby Alderweireld suffered a hamstring injury against Real Madrid, with Eric Dier slotting into the middle.

That was the set-up for the following two matches against Crystal Palace and Arsenal as well. But, after the defeat in last weekend’s north London derby, Pochettino swapped the pair for Tuesday’s trip to Dortmund, with Sanchez returning to the centre.


Spurs won 2-1 and it remains to be seen how the pair will be deployed in Saturday’s home league match against West Bromwich Albion.

“In different games it gives us different options to play from the back,” said Pochettino. “Always you have to find the best way to build from the back, and then without the ball the best position for them, to create a good balance in between the team, in between the lines.

“Sometimes I think Eric and Davinson can play and swap their position if we are finding one thing or another.”

Asked how much Spurs practise playing out from the back, Pochettino responded: “Not too much now. It’s difficult to work because now we’re prioritising the fitness, recovery. We work in this period more on the video than on the pitch.”

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