Uefa’s stringent squad registration rules have posed problems for Tottenham before and have done so again as Champions League nights return to N17.
Uefa’s 25-player squad list requires four to be “locally trained”, meaning they must have spent a minimum of three years at the club between the ages of 15 and 21. There is a separate B list for players U21 who have spent two uninterrupted years at the same club.
This time there is only one: third-choice goalkeeper Brandon Austin. Consequently, that has shrunk Spurs’ squad size down to 22, leading to six first-team players being omitted by the new manager.
Tel cost Spurs £30m after his loan (Photo: Getty)
Which leaves the sixth exile: Mathys Tel.
It caused a stir, mainly because Tel, at £30m, was the third-most expensive signing Spurs made this summer, behind Mohammed Kudus (£55m) and Xavi Simons (£51.8m).
He may have played under Ange Postecoglou in that time, but Frank was confirmed as the Australian’s successor three days before Spurs bought Tel outright.
Since then, though, Tel has struggled to make a mark under his new manager, featuring in three of Spurs’ four games but only for a total of 30 minutes.
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Even with Maddison and Kulusevski sidelined, Frank had abundant attacking talent to pick from. As well as the new recruits, wingers Brennan Johnson, Kudus and Wilson Odobert have been selected, along with centre-forwards Dominic Solanke and Richarlison.
With the attack well-stocked, picking Tel would have meant leaving other areas short. Antonin Kinsky was excluded from the Europa League last season, but is a credible challenger to Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Ben Davies covers the left side of defence, an area where Spurs are short. Archie Gray is too versatile to leave out.
However, he has struggled to match expectations so far, contributing two goals (one a penalty) and an assist in 22 appearances.
This snub, while it will sting, need not spell the beginning of the end of his Spurs career, however.
Frank will hope his decision can galvanise Tel as it did Spence. Maybe this will be the turning point of his Spurs career too.
Spurs supporters have taken to the Frenchman too his limited returns. He was praised for speaking to irate, travelling fans after a defeat to Fulham in March, and was given a standing ovation during the win over Burnley last month, days after being racially abused for missing a penalty against PSG.
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In fairness, this predicament is far from exclusive to Spurs. Liverpool left Federico Chiesa out of their squad, Chelsea omitted Facundo Buonanotte and Nottingham Forest failed to find room for their new club-record signing Omari Hutchinson.
Spurs’ situation should improve next year (assuming they qualify for European football), when Gray and Lucas Bergvall can be included on the B list. Should the pair remain at the club for another season, they will be regarded as club-trained on the A list, having both joined aged 18.
For now, though, Tel’s absence makes Spurs’ summer recruitment appear muddled. How can a player be deemed essential in June be expendable by September?
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