Guardiola’s Kanedigis in the past, insists Poch
MAURICIO Pochettino says there is no issue now between himself and Pep Guardiola over his October jibe about Tottenham Hotspur being “the Harry Kane team”, and that he admires the Manchester City manager.
The Catalan had made the quip after his side beat Chelsea, referring to how many goals the striker was scoring to fire Spurs, and Pochettino did react abrasively to it the following week. He maintained however that the air has been cleared.
“I had some conversations with people from the coaching staff,” Pochettino said.
“It was a thing that happened in the moment.
“In the end it’s not an issue. We have a very good relationship. I admire Pep — all that he was doing at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now at Manchester City.
“My idea as a manager is that I think he is one of the managers I am more close to in football. Now it’s in the past I forgot everything. I think for him too, it’s the same.
“Be sure, we’re going to see each other and say hello.
“We have a lot of friends in the middle.
“The respect is the most important. I don’t only admire and respect him how he feels about football. His passion for football. I know him from Barcelona, 21 years old, he was older than me. It’s not a problem.
“The most important thing is to try to enjoy football. Two teams that try to enjoy football.
“Of course I wish him and all the people I love there all the best. But we’re going to win, try to stop them and not just to stop them — we need the three points to try to be in the top four and fight for big things at the end of the season.”
Pochettino also said his players need no extra motivation for
this game as they look to end City’s record-breaking winning run.
“There’s always motivation to play this type of game,” he added.
“It’s the type of game where you don’t need to motivate the players, you don’t need to talk to much.
“You can feel in the atmosphere after the Brighton game that they’re so excited.
“For me, it’s about enjoying it. “You want to be there, you want to feel what happens on the touchline, feel what happens on the pitch.
“We’re going to play, for me, the best team today in Europe, not only in England. Because they’re in their best form. It’s so exciting.
“It’s a massive challenge — the type of challenge you always want the possibility to have.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola insists his City team can get even better despite sweeping almost all comers aside this season.
City are 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League after winning their last 15 games, a record in the English top flight.
Plaudits have poured in for
the stylish and resilient football City have played this term but, for Guardiola, there is no resting on laurels.
He said: “What’s important is to focus on the pitch what we have to do to play better, to increase our chances and concede few. That’s what we have to do.
“When I’m happy, it’s not because of the result but the way we play. That’s what I’m more satisfied by.
“I have a feeling we can do better — much better.
“That’s what we have to try to insist on the players.”