Tottenham Hotspur defender Serge Aurier has claimed he was “upset” during Mauricio Pochettino‘s tenure at the club. The arrival of Jose Mourinho has seen a change of mood, with the Ivorian becoming a key figure in the Portuguese’s plans.
However, under Pochettino, Aurier previously struggled to nail down a starting spot in the lineup since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain and has now revealed his past frustrations.
Serge Aurier Claims He Was ‘Upset’ During Mauricio Pochettino’s Tenure
Aurier Upset, But Showing Upturns
Despite revealing his desire to leave the club in the summer, Aurier has seen a turnaround in his Tottenham Hotspur career. The Ivorian has started in all but one of Spurs’ 15 Premier League fixtures since Mourinho’s arrival.
However, Aurier struggled to make the right-back spot his own, following his move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Under Pochettino, the Argentine elected to trust now-Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier, which consistently left the Ivorian sidelined. However, Aurier hasn’t shied away from revealing his frustration at his lack of game-time under the Argentine.
In an interview with France Football, he revealed: “There are things people don’t see because you don’t show yourself enough.
“The first year, the coach [Pochettino] didn’t make me play a lot, but I never went into his office to complain, I never showed a funny face. I don’t play, I’m upset, but I don’t show it.”
Defensive Frailties Still Evident
Mourinho has seemingly enjoyed the inheritance of Aurier, allowing him to roam high up the pitch. An extra weapon for the Spurs attack. The Ivorian has contributed to 8 goals in all competitions this season, with 6 of them coming under Mourinho’s guidance.
Despite the positive attacking output, his defensive duties have been forgotten at times. His advanced role under Mourinho has meant there have been defensive gaps for when he does venture forward. With the squad still adapting to Mourinho’s system, such gaps in an already-frail defence are less than ideal.
The Ivorian has definitely shown glimpses of being a valuable asset within the Spurs lineup. The question is whether he, alongside his back-line colleagues, can improve on their shoddy defensive showings thus far.
Main Photo
