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Tonight could well be last chance for £70k-a-week Spurs man to impress Jose Mourinho – TBR View
Tottenham Hotspur are in League Cup quarter-final action tonight and, for one player, it could well be his last chance to show Jose Mourinho he has what it takes to shine at Spurs.
Serge Aurier has, for the most part, done well this season, winning his place back in Mourinho’s starting XI after being in and out of the team following Matt Doherty’s arrival.
With the Irishman joining Tottenham, it appeared as though Aurier’s days at the club were numbered, from AC Milan suggesting he could’ve been on the move.
The Ivory Coast international finished the 2019-20 campaign as the only senior recognised player at right-back, but inconsistency and errors affected some of his displays.
A combination of increased competition for places, Mourinho’s coaching and Aurier’s hard work all culminated in the 27-year-old seemingly turning his career at Spurs around.
However, the defender made a big mistake in last weekend’s defeat to Leicester City, bringing Wesley Fofana down in the box to gift the opposition a penalty.
Jamie Vardy duly converted in first-half injury time and Spurs couldn’t come back, being eventually beaten 2-0 after Toby Alderweireld put through his own net just before the hour.
It’s a shame as Aurier had done so well for much of the season, but if he still has such errors in him, Mourinho could be wondering whether he’d be better off with Doherty in the XI.
It remains to be seen whether the Spurs boss will opt for Aurier or Doherty in his starting XI away at Stoke City tonight.
If he opts for the former, then it could well be a case of Aurier being given a chance to prove his display against Leicester was a one-off.
But the stakes are high; if he struggles again – against a Championship side, no less – then Mourinho might just decide that Doherty will be his first port of call from then on.