Moussa Sissoko has become a regular in the Tottenham Hotspur side this season, earning the trust of Mauricio Pochettino due to his defensive qualities and industry. After joining from Newcastle United in 2016, the 29-year-old initially struggled for form and playing time, but he has been rewarded for his hard work with four consecutive Premier League starts.
Prior to October, Sissoko played just 91 minutes of league football due to picking up a hamstring injury, but he’s been a regular ever since. Tottenham boast an 83% win-ratio in games where the French international has started. Pochettino recently lavished praise on the midfielder for his defensive work that allows the full-backs to be expansive.
In quotes reported by Football London and the Evening Standard, he said: “Nobody talks about Sissoko, or different players that are doing a fantastic job. When you are in possession and go forward, you need to be strong too when you are in a defensive situation. We always compensate. If you watch the game, Moussa Sissoko compensates that situation.”
He’s made 90 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham, scoring just two goals, and has racked up more Premier League minutes this season (445) than Danny Rose (441), Harry Winks (417), Dele Alli (378) and Son Heung-Min (309). It’s worth noting that Sissoko was up for sale in in the summer of 2017 but only stayed due to a lack of interest. Now, he’s earning his stay on merit.
Sissoko could now be called upon for Spurs in a must-win Champions League outing on Tuesday night – further evidence of his importance to Pochettino.