Danny Rose and Serge Aurier among Tottenham stars not to travel with squad for opening Champions League clash against Olympiacos
- Tottenham take on Olympiacos away on Wednesday night in Champions League
- Danny Rose and Serge Aurier have not travelled with the rest of the Spurs squad
- The pair both started Tottenham’s Premier League victory against Crystal Palace
- Juan Foyth, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon are all injury absentees
Danny Rose and Serge Aurier are among a number of players who have not travelled with the Tottenham squad for their Champions League opener against Olympiacos.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino stated after the weekend’s victory at home to Crystal Palace, in which Rose and Aurier both started, that he would make changes to the side in Greece.
Juan Foyth and Giovani Lo Celso are injury absentees, as is Ryan Sessegnon who continues to struggle with a hamstring problem.
Danny Rose and Serge Aurier have not travelled with Tottenham to face Olympiacos
Aurier will not feature despite impressing on his return to Tottenham’s starting XI vs Palace
Spurs were beaten by Liverpool in the Champions League final last season after a remarkable run to Madrid which included late wins against Manchester City and Ajax.
Pochettino is itching to start another campaign and believes his side can defy expectations again.
‘This was a long period after the final in Madrid and being honest I was thinking a lot during the summer,’ he said.
‘To finish losing the final is always so painful because you can’t put out the feeling and you need to wait to start again to repair the damage.
‘No one today is thinking or giving us chance to be a contender to be in the final in Istanbul this season. But that is normal. That makes it again very exciting, our run in the Champions League.’
Mauricio Pochettino insists he is very excited to begin another Champions League campaign
Pochettino added: ‘A few months ago we played the final of the Champions League and of course (playing) Olympiacos is going to put us in this level of favourites.
‘It is going to be a tough atmosphere. I respect the opponent and you need to show why you are favourites when you start the game.
‘Tomorrow we are going to make some changes, for different reasons, but the focus must be in the performance and quality of performance.’
Hugo Lloris is expecting a tough test from their opponents.
‘We all know about their history, it is a big Greek club and we have a lot of respect for them. It is a tough game and it is a hard place to start, we are expecting a fight,’ he added.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is expecting a tough test away at Olympiacos on Wednesday