Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists Kyle Walker’s focus has not wavered amid speculation the defender is unhappy at White Hart Lane.
Pochettino picked Kieran Trippier ahead of Walker for last weekend’s north London derby against Arsenal and the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea two weeks ago.
Walker, who is reportedly keen on a move to Manchester City, is in the squad to face West Ham on Friday night and has trained as normal with the first team this week.
⚽️???? Who remembers this from our trip to West Ham in February 2013?! ⚽️???? #COYS pic.twitter.com/ycOahCbCbU— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 4, 2017
“All 21 players are focused to help achieve the things we want to achieve,” Pochettino said. “I am so calm. The players are calm. They know what happens inside.
“It’s important that the fans know that the players are calm and we will see at the end of the season whether the rumours are true or not.”
Asked about Walker’s absence against Arsenal and Chelsea, Pochettino said: “For me every game is big. Crystal Palace was big. Swansea was a big game.”
How do solve a problem like Tottenham? ????#COYIpic.twitter.com/2mE5gupyA1— West Ham United (@WestHamUtd) May 4, 2017
He continued: “When you have players that deserve to play and play, then all players feel an important part of the team.
“The rotation between Danny Rose and Ben Davies, or Kyle and Trippier, you can see their performances. It’s because we have good players in the squad that it affects their team-mates and makes them better.”
Walker is one of a number of players to have been linked with moves away from Tottenham but Pochettino said nothing will be decided until the summer.
TEAM NEWS: Danny Rose (knee) – Stepping up his integration into First Team training, with a view to returning to full training next week. pic.twitter.com/G9tn1oyy5P— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) May 4, 2017
“No decision until the end of the season about anything,” Pochettino said.
“I accept the business but please, I think our fans don’t care. It’s true that Tottenham are a trending topic in all the rumours – we are champions. In the last two seasons (for rumours) we are more than first.”
Spurs have the chance to crank up the pressure on Chelsea this weekend – they can reduce the gap at the top to one point, before the Blues face Middlesbrough on Monday. They must first, however, beat West Ham at the London Stadium, where the Hammers have struggled for form this term.
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