LEVERKUSEN -- Mauricio Pochettino lost his cool at the suggestion there is confusion about Kevin Wimmer's situation at Tottenham Hotspur, and said the defender is part of his plans.
Pochettino named 18-year-old Cameron Carter-Vickers on the bench ahead of Wimmer in five out of the first six league matches and the Austria international's only appearance of the season has come against League One Gillingham in the EFL Cup.
Before Tuesday's Champions League match at Bayer Leverkusen, the Spurs manager dismissed the suggestion that Carter-Vickers could deputise for the injured Toby Alderweireld but he still named the teenager on the bench for the 0-0 draw, with Wimmer again absent on his return to Germany.
Told that fans and the media were confused by Wimmer's situation, Pochettino said: "Why are you confused? You are creating an issue that doesn't exist. You say it's a big problem for the supporters and media are very concerned.
"His situation was [he was] out of the 18 players. I need to take a decision about that."
Asked if Wimmer, who made 21 appearances last season, was still in his plans, Pochettino added: "Why not? When did I tell you he wasn't in my plans?
"I'm very honest with you. When a player is not in my plans, I tell you quickly but first I tell the player.
"He's in my plans. When I put him on the bench, another player needs to be put out. Tell me which player you would switch with him? That's your opinion."
During the international break, Wimmer said he had received "very positive" feedback from the club but admitted he was "down on expectations" for the season.
The left-footer impressed as deputy for Jan Vertonghen as the left-sided centre-half last season and Pochettino explained that Ben Davies, on the bench at the BayArena, could cover there, so he wanted the right-footed Carter-Vickers to provide "balance."
"I'm the manager and I always need to find balance on the bench," he added. "Ben Davies can play as a centre-back or as a full-back. I need another right, not another left [foot]. If something happens with [Eric] Dier or [Kieran] Tripper, I need a right foot. So the decision is to give balance to the bench and the team if something happens.
"The level we have is very competitive. Cameron shows in every session he is at the same level as others. Sometimes it's Cameron, sometimes Kevin, sometimes Ben Davies, sometimes Trippier, sometimes [Kyle] Walker.
"He's in my plans. If he's not, I'll tell him first and then you. I'm always honest, you know me very well."
All comments at pre and postmatch news conferences at UEFA events are translated if required but Pochettino then stopped the interpreter and abruptly left, saying: "It's not appropriate to translate in German." The Spurs manager continued the discussion after the news conference.
Wimmer signed a new five-year deal with Tottenham in July but in August, a source close to Pochettino told ESPN FC that the manager would listen to offers for the 23-year-old.