Mauricio Pochettino has launched a defence of his record since joining Tottenham after his comments about winning trophies were questioned at the weekend.
The Spurs boss believes he has achieved plenty by making the Londoners “real contenders” since arriving at the club in 2014.
What has Pochettino achieved with trophyless Spurs? Five key things to know…
- After Tottenham’s FA Cup exit at Crystal Palace on Sunday, Pochettino played down the importance of silverware and insisted trophies build egos.
- Spurs are yet to win anything since Pochettino was appointed in the summer of 2014.
- However, the Argentinian has led his side to Champions League qualification in each of the last three seasons.
- Tottenham are currently in the top four but were knocked out of both domestic cups last week.
- Pochettino has suggested qualifying for the Champions League is more important than silverware.
Spurs are in a good position to finish in the Premier League’s top four for a fourth successive season, and they have successfully reached the Champions League knock-out stages this term.
But questions have been raised over the priorities of the club and Pochettino after his comments on trophies.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the former Southampton manager said silverware isn’t the key behind Tottenham making the next step as a club.
“If you are in Real Madrid, you are only thinking about winning trophies. In Tottenham, when we arrived here, it was a completely different challenge and to build that philosophy is tough,” Pochettino said, according to Sky Sports.
“But the bigger picture is that we are going to have an amazing stadium, one of the best in the world.
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“If you want to be one of the best teams in the world, you need the best stadiums, the best facilities and we have one of the best training grounds. You need an unbelievable effort to build all that. And in the moment you get all this ready, it is not an excuse.
“We are focused in trying to win in every single game. We are disappointed, but we are trying with all our capacity and, of course, we are so, so conscious that we are giving our best to try to achieve all that the people want.
“I think we cannot underestimate all that the club is doing in the last few years, or these players, or staff because competing with all the circumstances in the last few years, people are thinking that we are real contenders.
“That is a massive prize, not to be criticised. Explaining the big picture is so important because sometimes people become confused.”
Pochettino urges Spurs fans to have perspective
Tottenham have spent far less than their rivals towards the top of the Premier League over the last few years.
They are yet to make a single signing this season after failing to recruit anyone in the summer, and no deals appear to be close ahead of Thursday’s transfer deadline.
As a result, Pochettino has urged the club’s supporters to have some perspective when analysing the “fantastic job” Spurs are currently carrying out.
He said: “The most important thing we need to translate to our fans, because I only talk about my club, not other clubs, managers or what they are doing.
“If I talk about Tottenham, I have to translate to my fans that we are going in a very good direction, working hard to deliver things, only we need to have faith and keep going by working.
“Of course, the moment to win is going to arrive and when you are going to be consistent fighting for big things. At the moment we are trying, but it’s tough to win.
“We try and have a lot of things to focus on, but with perspective we are going to see that we are doing a fantastic job.”
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