Mauricio Pochettino’s push for the first trophy of his managerial career received a major boost when his Spurs side qualified for the Semi finals of the Champions League eliminating Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City on the away goals rule.
The Argentine’s task was made easier by the availability of Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama who was superb in midfield during the second leg. The former Celtic and Southampton midfielder has endured an injury-ravaged campaign that has seen him miss a large chunk of the first half of the season. He returned to the team in their 1-1 draw against Arsenal at the beginning of March.
The Lion Of Muthurwa as he is commonly known in his home country has not looked back since and put in a man of the match performance last timeout in the English Premier League as Spurs dismantled Huddersfield 4-0, scoring the first goal.
Against Manchester City at the Etihad, Wanyama was everywhere tackling, winning the ball, moving it forward and most importantly giving a platform for Spurs more attacking players to thrive on. The sale of Mousa Demble in January was largely condemned especially due to the fact that no one was brought in to replace the Belgium international.
However, on the basis of Wanyama’s performance against Manchester City Pochettino knew what he was doing when he dispatched Dembele. It is little wonder that immediately he moved from Southampton to Spurs, one of the players he requested should be brought in was Victor Wanyama who was also at Southampton.
Pochettino clearly trusts the Kenyan and has repaid that trust with a battering performance that could go along way in changing the history books at the North London club. By booking a slot in the semis he already made history by becoming only the second East African to do so after