Tottenham manager says Cameron Carter-Vickers deserves to start
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is very high on Cameron Carter-Vickers. He's so high on the 18-year-old American centerback that he thinks Carter-Vickers could even start.
"If you watch again the game against Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan in pre-season, I think that maybe he deserves to play in the starting 11," Pochettino said.
Carter-Vickers got looks in the preseason largely because of absences to the team's more senior centerbacks. Once the games started to count, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen slotted into the middle of the defense, which was to be expected after the duo were at the heart of a back line that allowed the fewest goals in the Premier League a year ago.
"He can give to the team better quality than another player. All my decisions are because I think a player can give more things than another player. It's for that that I picked him on the bench.
"Kevin arrived late on the pre-season, was injured remember, he didn't play in Australia, and Cameron did very well.
"You can watch the games, and if he deserves to be on the bench, then why not? Because he is young? It's about performance."
There's almost no chance of Carter-Vickers getting opportunities over Alderweireld or Vertonghen. Even passing up Wimmer is a long shot. But Spurs have the Champions League this season to go along with their Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup contests. They'll have to use their depth and an injury could open the door for the young American. That door could open as soon as Wednesday, when Tottenham play Gillingham in the League Cup.
MORE FROM FOX SOCCER
