Tottenham Hotspur have had a rather mixed start to the season.

Spurs have turned in some truly exceptional performances, beating Manchester United 6-1 and Southampton 5-2, all the while qualifying for the Europa League group stages and the EFL Cup quarter-finals.

They have also lost 1-0 to Everton, and drawn 3-3 with West Ham United despite taking a 3-0 lead, and also been pegged back by Newcastle United, who snatched a point in the last minute after a controversial penalty was awarded.

As the season progresses, one has to imagine that Spurs will need to ally solid defending with their incredible attacking prowess.

Jose Mourinho’s men have scored 15 goals in their five games, more than any other club, but they have conceded eight, a higher number than Sheffield United and the same amount as Burnley; both the Blades and the Clarets are in the relegation zone.

And it appears that the Portuguese has made a decision regarding his backline.

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Football Insider reports that Mourinho will not play Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier together at the back, due to a fundamental lack of pace.

So convinced is the ex-Chelsea boss that the partnership is a “last resort” and will be avoided “at all costs”.

Davinson Sanchez is almost an automatic pick given his pace, and he will be partnered by either Alderweireld or Dier.

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Mourinho is said to be a big fan of both the Belgian and the Englishman but he will not be playing the pair together.

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

Yeah this makes complete sense.

Alderweireld is probably the better defender of the pair – his anticipation is greater than Dier’s – but neither are the fleetest-footed.

Sanchez, for all his flaws, is quick, and is capable at both cutting danger out and covering for his centre-back partner.

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That is key to any defensive duo but neither Alderweireld nor Dier will be able to do that for the other.

Putting the two together against a pacy opposition forward line is tantamount to self-harm, especially with Spurs’ preference for playing a high line.

This is a clever decision.