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The look on Mauricio Pochettino's face said it all as he took a question about leaving the defender out.

One Belgian had sat there for the entire match, watching on from the sidelines, unable to influence matters on the pitch, while another defender had been left out entirely.

Toby Alderweireld did not play a single minute of Tottenham's opening match last season at Newcastle United as he remained unused on the bench and Kieran Trippier was not even named in the travelling squad and Pochettino was asked whether he was injured.

"No, no. The players that played we considered ready to play. The players that are out of the squad are because the same situation, are all in the condition to train. Nobody is injured. Only it is to take the best decision," he said.

"No, I think all arrived in a good condition to start the training and then it's our decision to pick a starting XI and players on the bench."

Fast forward 12 months and this time Alderweireld was the man starting and Jan Vertonghen was sitting up in the stands at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium watching on.

Again Pochettino was answering questions about his team selection and he confirmed with a similar answer that as with the events a year before, the omitted defender was not injured.

“I want to play the players who deserve to play, who I think to deserve to play and who are playing well. My decision today was to play Toby [Alderweireld]. If the players didn't play today, they need to work hard to get their opportunity," he told Sky Sports.

"With all the players fit you struggle to find a starting 11. We have more than 25 players and everyone needs to understand we have plenty of good players in every position. We can only play with 11.

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"It's always the judgement of the manager and the coaching staff. After five years I'm going to play the players who deserve to play.

"There is not any issue [with Vertonghen] but my decision today was play with Toby and Davinson [Sanchez] to provide a good balance for the team."

With Vertonghen up in the stands rather than on the bench, he reportedly didn't take the news that he would not be starting particularly well and Pochettino decided to leave him out of the matchday squad.

More than anything Pochettino likes to exert his authority over the squad and remind all of the players that it is about the collective rather than indivudals.

The Argentine bristles when quizzed by the media why one players started over another and that mentality begins in the dressing room.

There is no relationship breakdown with Vertonghen. The experienced Belgian is one of Pochettino's generals and he and fellow vice-captain Harry Kane were out with the manager, chairman Daniel Levy and coaching staff to an exclusive meal in Shanghai just weeks ago.

Pochettino admitted last year that he and Vertonghen do argue in training a lot but that that's no bad thing. The Argentine enjoys the back and forth with players who challenge him to push them and everyone even further, with Kane a similar positive challenge for Pochettino.

"It is true that we clash a lot in training because [Jan] is clever and always has an argument and a reason why, but in the end I appreciate a lot his efforts in giving the team what we expect from him," said the Argentine.

"It is good to praise him because he is a very good player who sometimes does not get valued enough.

"I am so proud that he has achieved this level today. Not only on the pitch but off the pitch. In my opinion he's one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and in Europe."

The defender's contract situation remains unresolved though. Vertonghen has repeatedly stated in recent months that he wants to remain at the north London club but having taken up the option to extend his current deal by a year last season, Spurs are yet to come to an agreement on an improved deal for the Belgian.

Pochettino stated clearly last season that he believes Vertonghen deserves a new contract and that he can play at the top level for years to come.

"He has unbelievably quality, physical condition, technique," said the Spurs boss. "He is so strong, he looks like a 20-year-old because when he runs he is fast, he is like my new dog -- a Rhodesian Ridgeback!

"It is easy for him to run. Physicality is his talent. It is genetic, it is his natural condition. He is an athlete. It is up to him but he could play until he is 40.

"The club believe that he needs to be rewarded. He's one of the players that deserves [a new contract]."

That contract is yet to be agreed though and that is for the club and the Belgian to sort out.

The manager is only responsible for what happens on the pitch and with Vertonghen expected to be back in the squad for the clash with Manchester City next weekend, it will soon become clear whether Pochettino's latest player management mind games did the trick or not.