LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has at times been accused of lacking a Plan B, but he believes his Tottenham team are now equally comfortable in two systems after a subtle shift to a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Pochettino has favoured a 4-2-3-1 but, in the absence of Mousa Dembele, he has switched to one holding midfielder and used another creative player behind the striker in the last handful of matches.
There were fledgling signs of the new set-up in the 2-1 defeat to Monaco but the players struggled. After that, a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 yielded impressive wins against Middlesbrough, CSKA Moscow and particularly Man City.
The 2-0 win over City prompted Pochettino to say the "future of the project" was to play with one holding midfielder. but he insisted on Friday that the club's philosophy remains the same, even if the system is changed.
"It depends on the characteristics of the players that we have on the pitch. We can use one or other different system. Both are good," the Spurs manager said ahead of Saturday's match at West Brom.
"We have players that can play in that way to keep possession and play more in the opposition half when they are very deep. You have more control and capacity to create a chance.
"It is always a challenge for the team and player to learn about different systems and play in different ways. In the end we are not changing our concept to press high, build from the back and play along the grass.
"Sometimes it is important for the players to learn and those that can play in different positions on the pitch, only with time can you teach them. Now we are in a group process that the team can play in different ways and systems.
"When I was in Espanyol and Southampton and from the beginning here, when we didn't have a good result, there were some comments that it was because we play like this or we don't have a Plan B.
"It is important when we are in a project after two years to try to improve the values and concepts and to try to play in different ways in different games. Always with the same concept and value but with different positions on the pitch. Always it is important. It is good for us and sometimes very complicated for the opponent."
The switch in formation appears planned considering Tottenham's summer signings. Victor Wanyama is a traditional defensive midfield, capable of sitting in front of the back four without a partner, while Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou are both comfortable playing wide in a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 set-up, rather than as inside forwards in a 4-2-3-1.
"They fit very well in different systems because we always play with one striker, Harry [Kane], [Vincent] Janssen or Son [Heung-Min], and Sissoko can play on the side, can play inside how he plays for France. And then Wanyama or [Eric] Dier [in holding midfield]," Pochettino added. "I think you have clever players who can play in different ways."
If Pochettino sticks to his word and continues to use one holding midfielder, Dier could be the man to make way in the biggest games, particularly after Wanyama's excellent performance against City.
"We cannot create issues where the issue is not here. When he was fit, he always played," Pochettino said of the England international.
"[Against] City he was injured, he was coming [back] from an injury. We'll see what happens. But football is about 25 [players]. Maybe last season there was only him, but this season we want to improve our squad.
"It's not a problem. Now the players need to feel the competition. There is Wanyama in his position too. And don't forget Harry Winks too, who is coming and pushing a lot from behind. You have to look forward and carry on working.