Nobody had expected it, least of all Danny Rose. It was Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League tie against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu three weeks ago, the score was 1-1 and there were 10 minutes to go.
Rose had not played since January. He had been through hell with a knee injury. His very inclusion in the squad had been a surprise; the left-back was supposed to be out for a little longer – but now Mauricio Pochettino wanted to make a substitution and he wanted it to be Rose.
“I thought him putting me on against Real Madrid, even though it was only for 10 minutes, was a class act on his part,” Rose said. “It made me feel a part of it again. He didn’t need to bring me on.”
Rose played in midfield, on the left of a central trio, to reinforce the impression Pochettino had been determined to shoehorn him in somehow, anyhow; in order to give him a boost.
It felt even more significant in light of how Rose had agitated in August with his notorious and candid interview in The Sun, in which he criticised the club’s wage structure and transfer policy.
Rose apologised but was fined and it was easy to wonder whether he had blotted his copybook indelibly with Pochettino, who has taken a dim view previously when players have stepped out of line. There appears to be no lingering bad blood, even if it is not always easy to tell with Pochettino.
The Argentinian places enormous importance on the notion of faith and Gareth Southgate has followed his lead where Rose in concerned. When the England manager named his squad last Thursday for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil, Rose had made only one post-Bernabéu appearance – he started in Tottenham’s Carabao Cup defeat by West Ham United. Southgate still called him up.
“It was a big positive for me,” Rose said. “Gareth knows I have not played much football but he knows what I am capable of. My end goal is to be part of that World Cup squad and I can only do that by playing regularly for my club.
“I have spoken to Gareth a lot. I did a bit of my rehab at the England training centre. I was around him for three weeks and we had dinner together most days and spoke pretty much every day. He has called me and texted me. He has been first-class.
“I went there [to St George’s Park] for a change of scenery. I had spent a long time in the same treatment room and it got a bit much. It was nice that the England manager was up for me going there. It helped me mentally.”
Rose damaged a medial ligament in his left knee at Sunderland on 31 January but it was never anticipated he would be out for so long. He underwent surgery on 16 May. “There are literally no words to describe how frustrating it has been – especially last season, seeing the football the lads were playing and how close they went to catching Chelsea [for the title],” Rose said.
“Even this season, sitting on the bench against Real Madrid at Wembley last Wednesday – that wasn’t nice. It is nice that we won but it is not nice when you want to be part of it.”
Rose started in Tottenham’s win over Crystal Palace on Sunday but it was plain that he remained short of his top level. “He wasn’t at his best, as you can see,” Pochettino said. “He needs to go step by step.”
Rose added: “I am not 100% yet. I have only had a couple of weeks of training so I probably still need another month of training and playing games.”
From Rose’s point of view the falling out over the controversial interview is in the past, although he remains a hot subject for the rumour mill. He has been linked with a January move to Manchester United.
“It is forgotten and I think it is forgotten on the club’s point as well,” Rose said. “I don’t think there is any relationship-building needed with the fans. They showed me that against Real Madrid, away. I was wary of the reception I was going to get but it was brilliant. I think they have forgiven me.
“Me and the gaffer are fine. We speak most days. The lads will tell you that over the last three years I am the one in his office the most, speaking to him and going through videos and sharing text messages – even going round to his house. As long as we’ve both got the same goals, which is to win a trophy for Tottenham, then there’s nothing to worry about.”