Jose Mourinho discusses ‘very difficult’ Paulo Gazzaniga decision

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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has told Football London about his decision to leave Paulo Gazzaniga out of the Europa League squad.

The Argentine goalkeeper was left out of the 25-man group with Hugo Lloris and Joe Hart preferred as alternatives.

Gazzaniga has fallen down the pecking order this season and having failed to secure a move away, now finds himself in limbo.

Mourinho added Hart on a free transfer during the summer and has immediately taken on the role of deputy goalkeeper.

The Portuguese manager sees his side face LASK tonight in their Europa League curtain-raiser and he’s been discussing Gazzaniga.

He told Football London: “It’s very difficult to leave a player out. It stops the player fighting for something he wants and that is always very, very hard.

“The thing is in January you can change, so if you have a different view you can change.

“The Gazzaniga situation, with Hugo and Joe we believe that for the next couple of months we can do it with an academy goalkeeper, with a young English kid.”

Gazzaniga played 25 games last season and acted admirably as a deputy for first-choice stopper Lloris.

Hart’s arrival has bumped him down the pecking order and that might have come as a surprise to some supporters.

The man with one cap for Argentina is paid £20,000-a-week at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and would have been a good signing for someone.

With no football likely to be forthcoming between now and January, surely a move seems like the only option.

Gazzaniga arrived at Spurs from Southampton but his three-year stay at the club is surely coming to an end.