Mauricio Pochettino explains how Tottenham new boy Davinson Sanchez can become one of the best in the world

Pochettino says Sanchez has so much potential for a player his age

The centre-back has slotted straight into the first-team since signing (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino admitted on Thursday that one of the problems when your opposition changes manager just days before a game is that it means you can’t properly prepare, because there is no longer a precedent or anything to work off.

But that is highly unlikely to be a problem for the young player that is becoming the bedrock of his Tottenham Hotspur team.

Even if Tony Pulis were still at West Brom on Saturday at Wembley, to subject Davinson Sanchez to the most extreme experience of high balls he’d get in English football, the young Colombian would probably easily deal with that, too. This has been the story of his striking first few months at Tottenham Hotspur since signing from Ajax for a club record fee, after all. The mere 21-year-old has made a supreme immediate impact, without really requiring any time for adjustment.

It’s all the more impressive when you consider that someone like one of the greatest centre-halves England has ever seen in Nemanja Vidic needed much more time after arriving as a 25-year-old in January 2006, and what Pochettino lays out when discussing Sanchez’s arrival.

“He arrived so late in the transfer market, 1 September, and without time,” the Argentine explains.

“He had no proper pre-season [with Spurs] because he was in Ajax and then playing in the [World Cup] qualification for the national team in Colombia and no time to work with us here. All [preparation work] was more visual than on the pitch. We needed with him one month and a half - or two months - [worth of] pre-season every day.”

Pochettino puts it down to his personality - and talent.

“It’s because he’s so clever, and he’s very humble, and he’s very open to learn. He’s a player when you tell him something his reaction is to be open, and be critical with himself, and that is a massive skill from a player, when he’s so open to improve, and then the conditions he have are amazing [for him] to be one of the best centre-halves in the world.”

High expectations but fair expectations. If Sanchez really has taken on that much pre-season’s worth of preparation in such a minimal time, it only reflects how much he has also matured given his young years - how little time, or age, seem to matter for him. With the way he gets on the ball, and the way he wins it, you really wouldn’t think he’s 21.

Davinson has been superb since signing for Spurs (Getty)

“You saw against against [Borussia] Dortmund [on Tuesday] how many times he was with [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang one v one. How many central defenders can play one v one and escape and go, be tight and and press - and if you run I run because I am so confident [when] running. I think not many centre-backs in the world can do this.

“Or against Swansea [City] against Tammy Abraham, how many times he was one v one and the ball was behind him, he was on the halfway line and running was not a problem. And against Cristiano Ronaldo, I don't know.”

It is, however, precisely why Pochettino knows there is so much more to come. The Argentine has already said how Sanchez can be the best centre-half in the world, but those words already carry much more meaning. They’re not just based on potential, but performance.

“We expect more from him… [he can improve] every single aspect, tactic, physical condition, technique… but I am so happy with him. He is doing well, very well, he’s only 21 years old but he shows more maturity and he’s so aggressive when he’s marking, his concentration and then with the ball he’s good, but I think he can improve.

“There is a massive [scope] to improve potentially, it’s massive for him. In only a few months, he’s showing he’s doing fantastic job for us.”

So, what will be like in a few years? On Saturday, at least, Sanchez is likely to be ready for anything West Brom throw at him.