Axel Disasi ended up playing a huge amount last season under Mauricio Pochettino.
Initially seen as a signing intended to be a backup, injuries to Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah in the first half of the season – plus Benoit Badiashile’s patchy fitness and inconsistent form even when he did play – meant that Disasi ended up a real stalwart in Pochettino’s side.
This season his guaranteed starting place in the first team is gone, and it looks like he and Badiashile are going to be the regular second string centre back pair.
They managed a clean sheet against Barrow on Tuesday night. There will be tougher tests to come, but this was a nice chance to continue helping this second team gel together. Speaking to the club’s official website after the game, Disasi was very clear that all credit was due to the manager and his staff:
“It is because of the ideas of the coach and the tactics. In training, we all train on the same system and all on the same tactics, so every player knows what they have to do in their position,” Disasi claimed.
“That is why it is easy for everyone even if we have a lot of changes. Everyone knows what they have to do.”
Second string chemistry the ultimate aim
It’s hard enough to build one team – let alone a second XI alongside it. But two games against Servette and one against Barrow means things are well underway, and Maresca’s intensity and attention to detail make him seem the right candidate to pull something like this off.
By the end of the year, this team could end up playing something like 20 games together if they go deep in the cups. Disasi, even without a regular first team slot, could end up being an important player in this squad once again.
