Tottenham and Pochettino wrestle with the challenge of ambition and youth development

Marcelo Bielsa needed just one viewing to be convinced that Mauricio Pochettino could be a professional footballer. Bielsa’s confirmation did not arrive during Pochettino’s trial game for Newell’s Old Boys, but at two o’clock in the morning. The 62-year-old had not been able to make it to the match earlier in the day, but after receiving good reports from his coaches opted to drive straight to Pochettino’s house that night.

Once there he met a rather confused set of parents who explained their son was asleep, and so any talk of deal with Newell’s would have to wait. Undeterred, Bielsa asked to see Pochettino and made his way into the youngster’s bedroom, and after lifting the sheets to find what he called ‘footballer’s legs’ agreed to sign him then and there.

Three decades on and Pochettino is now in Bielsa’s position, trying his best to evaluate and develop the precocious talent that resides with Tottenham Hotspur. The Spurs boss is currently blessed with a clutch of promising young English stars including; Harry Winks, Josh Onomah, Kyle Walker-Peters and Marcus Edwards, but to name a few.

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All bursting with potential, and at different stages in their professional careers, Pochettino has spoken publicly of the desire to use more of Tottenham’s academy graduates.

“The big sides are investing a lot of money in trying to improve their squads but we are so calm and so quiet because we have belief in our youth from our academy,” he said this summer. “We may lack a few players, but we are so calm because I think we have a very good team and the most important thing for us always is the team.”

That belief was tested on the opening weekend of the season when Pochettino chose to name Walker-Peters in the starting line-up for the trip to face Newcastle United. A consequence of injury to Kieran Trippier, the 20-year-old debutant picked up the Man of The Match award during a comfortable 2-0 win over the Magpies.

What followed was a series of articles about the young defender’s quality, and whether this was his breakout moment at Tottenham. However, the return of Trippier from injury has halted any further progress, as has the arrival of Serge Aurier, and rightly so given both are better players.

Unfortunately, the competition facing Walker-Peters also highlights the difficulty Pochettino has when it comes to developing players.

The North London club clearly have a focus on their academy, and its potential. Spurs U19s recently demolished their Borussia Dortmund counterparts 4-0 in the UEFA Youth League, with Edwards and Keanan Bennetts both starring.

However, the difficulty for Spurs comes in translating that success to the first team. In recent seasons the club’s ambition has been matched with on-field achievement as they secured back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League for the first time. Not only has this made them a more attractive proposition to new recruits, but it has also added the Champions League to their already demanding schedule.

Of the aforementioned youngsters at Pochettino’s disposal Winks is the most experienced. Even though he is just 21, his lack of regular game-time at any level is a concern, with just three of his 24 Premier League appearances coming as starts. It would be easy to blame Pochettino, but the Argentine is left in a difficult position.

Not only are the likes of Eric Dier and Mousa Dembele better players, they have more experience and provide a better fit for the team. Although Pochettino has been able to bring in youngsters and improve them like Dele Alli and Dier, he has struggled to bridge the gap between Tottenham’s youth and senior team.

The 45-year-old has previously been unwilling to loan out youngsters if he feels they have a future at the club. A recent report in the Independent stated that Pochettino rates his own coaching staff so highly that he does not want lesser coaches working with his players. A somewhat admirable stance, it does little to aid the development of the club’s young players and places them in a state of limbo.

During the summer the club rejected loan offers from the Premier League and Celtic for Josh Onomah. Eventually, the midfielder joined Aston Villa on a temporary deal which represents a surprising departure from Pochettino’s usual modus operandi, but one influenced by outside advice. Cameron Carter-Vickers also moved to Sheffield United, but it is unclear where he sits in Pochettino’s plans.

What is sure is that Spurs are facing a difficult predicament. Their ambitions as a club have evolved from wanting to qualify for the Champions League to now seeking a Premier League title. Resting alongside that aim is the desire to include more youngsters from their academy, if only for financial reasons. Servicing the two could prove tough, and may require Pochettino abandon his previous approach to youth development, with other teams allowed to the lay groundwork for Tottenham’s future stars.

That, along with faith and confidence in the club’s youngsters will be key, just as his mentor showed faith and confidence in him without ever seeing him kick a ball.