A couple of weeks ago, not many people knew the name Juan Foyth outside of Tottenham, however, this time last week, many more were familiar with him.
The 20-year-old made his Premier League debut for Spurs against Wolves two weekends ago, and it was not one to remember. Although he played well throughout the game, he gave away two late penalties that made it a nail-biting affair for The Lilywhites. This could be a disaster for a young player, which not only shatters their own confidence, but the manager’s confidence in the player.
However, whether it was an injury crisis, or intuition, manager Mauricio Pochettino gave him another chance straight away in the Premier League against Crystal Palace at the weekend- and it paid off. Although the centre-back looked nervy at first, he relaxed as the game progressed and became more composed. His redemption was sealed when he bagged his first goal for the club, and the winner to give Spurs three points.
Now the manager must have been in limbo last week as to whether he gives Foyth another chance. Sometimes a manager would discard a player for a while after such an erroneous performance, but credit must be given to Pochettino for showing faith. Likewise, credit must be given to Foyth for getting back on the proverbial horse. This is the resolve that will serve a player well throughout his career, and is exemplary in such a young man.
Tottenham beat PSG last summer for the signature of the teenage prodigy, as manager Pochettino proceeded to bolster his defence. The 6ft 3 defender signed for £8m from Argentinian club Estudiantes, after being a member of the Argentina under-20 squad at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and caught the eye of many suitors, but Tottenham won the race for the man. Some Tottenham fans may have questioned why they made the signing, but they may get their answer in the coming months.
In a difficult season for the club both on and off the field, Pochettino’s use of Juan Foyth is yet another masterstroke from the former Southampton boss.
