Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho has revealed that he felt ‘safer’ by picking goalkeeper Michel Vorm over defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama in his 25-man Champions League squad.
As per the rules by UEFA, clubs can name 17 non-locally trained players in their squads and following the January signings of Dutchman Steven Bergwijn and Portugal international Gedson Fernandes, Spurs have one too many.
Tottenham plays Bundesliga high-fliers RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16 and are in a demanding position as Ben Davies and Eric Dier who have captained Wales and England respectively, do not count as locally-trained players, having come through the ranks in Wales and Portugal respectively.
Previously, former gaffer Mauricio Pochettino was forced to omit Juan Foyth, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, and Vincent Janssen – a decision the Argentine described as “so painful.”
Mourinho said Wanyama would be this season’s fall-guy but revealed that Irishman Troy Parrott, who turned 18 on Tuesday, would be available on the ‘B list’.
“[Troy] Parrott goes to the B squad,” Mourinho said. “In practical terms, it is the same. He is available to play. Victor and Michel [Vorm] is a different story.
“I feel safer by having Michel on the list. I don’t want to have the risk of losing [goalkeepers] Paulo [Gazzaniga] or Hugo [Lloris] and not to have Michel on the list.
“Victor is in a position where we have lots of players. [Harry] Winks, Dier, [Oliver] Skipp and Gedson.”
Mourinho leads Wanyama’s brother McDonald Mariga to European Cup glory with Inter Milan in 2010 but victor has played just 12 minutes of football under the Portuguese – in the Champions League dead-rubber against Bayern Munich.
“He is ill for three days and I don’t see him and I didn’t have the chance,” Mourinho said. “When he is back, I will try to explain.”
This omission though will come as a major blow to Wanyama, as according to Daily Star, reports are emerging from France suggesting that Spurs are looking into potentially terminating his contract.
The Kenyan has barely featured this season, appearing just four times for Spurs this season and French football journalist Nail Djellit is claiming that: “Tottenham could ultimately terminate Victor Wanyama’s contract.
“The Kenyan of 28 years could then freely engage in Amiens or elsewhere … The saga continues.”
