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Tottenham Hotspur prepare for the upcoming season with the pains of that ill-fated night of June, at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, still fresh in their minds. Mauricio Pochettino's side were within the cusp of glory, only to come short against an inspired Liverpool side. The season had its fair share of promises, but ultimately ended in disappointment for Pochettino as Spurs finished 4th in the Premier League table.
The Argentinean will be desperate to add that killer edge to his team in the days ahead. Spurs have developed in leaps and bounds under his stewardship, showcasing an entertaining, attacking brand of football. The upcoming season could be a defining one for the Argentine and his wards, and a lot will depend on his defensive backbone.
Even though he does occasionally opt for four at the back, Pochettino has preferred a back four in his team, with marauding full backs who regularly join the attack. Today, we take a look at Tottenham Hotspurs' ideal back line ahead of the upcoming season.
Left Back - Ben Davies
Last season, Ben Davies turned out to be quite the saviour for Mauricio Pochettino. When Danny Rose was sidelined with a groin injury for almost two months, the Welshman stepped up and deputized quite well at left back. He played through pain at times, fighting a similar groin injury which struck him at the turn of the year. Despite that, Davies was so good that Rose struggled to hold on to his place in the team after he returned from injury. This season, with the Englishman's future still in doubt, Davies could be set for an even bigger role at left back.
The Welshman might lack the speed of Rose, but his positioning and overall play is immaculate. Davies is a good passer of the ball and had a decent 82.76% pass completion in the league last season. One of the areas that he will look to improve is his crossing, as the Welshman is not the best crosser of the ball.
While his offensive contribution might still have room for improvement, Davies is fantastic at the back. He is a solid tackler and is very dependable as a part of a back four as well as a back five. In addition, Davies is also very strong in the air, which makes him an asset in both boxes. The Welshman is quite disciplined at the back as well, picking up just 2 yellow cards from 27 appearances in the league last season.
Under Pochettino's attacking tactics, Ben Davies makes up for his lack of pace with his clever positioning and his versatility. And the fact that he recently signed a new five year deal makes him the preferred choice for the left back role in the upcoming season.
Right Back - Juan Foyth
Kieran Trippier's departure to Atletico Madrid has created a gap at the back four for Tottenham. While Serge Aurier is a candidate to take up the role on a permanent basis for the first team, Pochettino also has Kyle Walker-Peters and Juan Foyth in the squad, pushing for a first team place. It is the later who should be ideal choice for the right back role in the upcoming season.
The Argentinean has been mainly used by Pochettino as a center back, however, while representing his country in the 2019 Copa America, Foyth excelled at right-back. He started three games for Argentina in the right-back role and was one of the best players on the pitch.
Foyth is extremely comfortable on the ball, completing 95% of passing against Venezuela. He is also defensively sound, tackling well and intercepting with intent on the pitch. He has pace to burn and perhaps a little more direction in the final third is all that is required. Foyth is also dominant in the air, which can come in handy both at the back and in attack.
The Argentinean has already shown in Copa America that he can adapt well to a fast and fluid attacking system. There's no doubt that Foyth is most suited for the role among the players at the club. And in Pochettino, he has a coach who can guide him and shape him into one of the best in the world.
Left Centre-Back - Jan Vertonghen
Mauricio Pochettino has a preference to deploy a left footed defender in the left center back role, but that is hardly the reason why Jan Vertonghen is regarded so highly by the Argentinean. The Belgian is Pochetinno's very own hangdog warrior who epitomizes his manager's fighting spirit in the team.
Vertonghen is a very good passer of the ball and averaged almost 70 passes per game in the league last season, with 87.52% completion. He even scored a goal last season and can be a threat with his aerial presence in the opposition box. He likes sending in crosses into the box and capable of creating chances from the deep.
At the back, the Belgian is composed and rarely puts a foot wrong. He is a very good tackler, but does not necessarily dive into tackles on every invitation. Vertonghen prefers to use his positioning and stellar anticipation to get the better of the opposition. He has an affinity for dribbling and is also quite good at it.
Jan Vertonghen is a leader at the back for Tottenham and looks set to continue his stellar recent form into the upcoming season for his club.
Right Centre-Back - Toby Alderweireld
Toby Alderweireld has been an ever present figure in Mauricio Pochettino's team in recent years and while his future had been a cause of concern of late, it looks like the Belgian is all set to stay at Tottenham in the upcoming season. It is criminal to think that Alderweireld had a release clause of just £25m this summer, but somehow, Spurs managed to hold on to him.
The Belgian is certainly one of the best defenders in the league and is the calm and composed figure at the back that keeps the Tottenham team ticking. Alderweireld also has a stellar partnership with his countryman Vertonghen at the heart of the Spurs defense. At the back, the Belgian is the ball playing center back who likes to initiate attacks from the deep. He is the architect of Tottenham's style of play, providing the depth to Tottenham's fast and fluid style of play. Last season, he averaged around 70 passes per game with almost 89% completion rate in the league.
This season too, Alderweireld will be an important part of Pochettino's team, as Spurs attempt to finally break their Silverware jinx.
