Antonio Conte and Tottenham have been handed a Champions League boost following a UEFA rule change. Previously having issues in the competition in years gone by due to their high number of non-homegrown players, Spurs' long-standing problem has been eased slightly after UEFA changed their position on Welsh players who trained at clubs affiliated with the English league system.
This means that Ben Davies, as well as Joe Rodon who is on loan with French side Rennes, can now be classed as homegrown in UEFA competition. Davies now joins Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin, Djed Spence, Japhet Tanganga, Oliver Skipp, Ryan Sessegnon and Harry Kane as the eight homegrown players in Tottenham's 25-man squad.
Prior to the rule change, it initially appeared that Tottenham would be one over the limit of 17 non-homegrown players in their Champions League squad after concluding their summer transfer business. However, Conte and Spurs are now in a position where they don't need to cut a member of their squad for the group phase.
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One of Bryan Gil and Pape Matar Sarr looked most at risk prior to Friday evening's squad registration deadline but both have been included in the 25-man squad as a result of the rule change. The rule change comes as welcome news to all at Tottenham as Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho had previously found themselves having to leave players out in the past.
Vincent Janssen, George-Kevin Nkoudou and Juan Foyth were some of the players not included by Pochettino, with Rodon not named by Mourinho in Tottenham's 2020/21 Europa League campaign.
Tottenham 2022/23 Champions League squad
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris, Fraser Forster, Brandon Austin
Defence: Matt Doherty, Davinson Sanchez, Emerson Royal, Eric Dier, Cristian Romero, Ryan Sessegnon, Djed Spence, Japhet Tanganga, Ben Davies, Clement Lenglet, Ivan Perisic
Midfield: Oliver Skipp, Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma
Attack: Richarlison, Harry Kane, Bryan Gil, Lucas Moura, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min
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