Tottenham recently confirmed their squad for the upcoming Europa League campaign, but there was one notable absence. Djed Spence, who has been making waves in the team this season, was left out of the squad. This decision came as a surprise to many, especially since clubs are allowed to make three changes following the winter transfer window.
It wasn’t just Spence who missed out, as Sergio Reguilon was also omitted from the squad. However, Reguilon’s absence was more expected, given that he was not part of Ange Postecoglou’s plans and was rumored to leave in the summer transfer window.
The issue at hand is the requirement to have a certain number of locally-trained players in the squad. According to UEFA regulations, clubs must have at least eight locally-trained players in their squad, with four of them being club-trained players. In Tottenham’s case, they were short on club-trained players due to the departures of key individuals like Skipp, Kane, and Tanganga.
As a result, Postecoglou could only name two club-trained players – Austin and Whiteman – which meant that the squad size had to decrease by two. Unfortunately, this led to Spence and Reguilon missing out on a spot in the Europa League squad.
The exclusion of Spence has sparked debates among fans and pundits, with many questioning the decision-making process behind the squad selection. It remains to be seen how this will impact Tottenham’s performance in the Europa League, as they face tough competition ahead.
Overall, the squad announcement has brought attention to the intricacies of squad selection in European competitions and the challenges that clubs face in meeting UEFA’s requirements. As the Europa League campaign kicks off, all eyes will be on Tottenham and how they navigate through the tournament without some key players in their squad.
