I NEED A TROPHY
Earlier this year the Tottenham manager, whose side host Aston Villa today, was criticised for dismissing the Carabao Cup and FA Cup as “not important”.
He also insisted the success of his “project” at White Hart Lane should not be ignored because his side have not won a trophy. But after coming so close to lifting the Champions League title, losing against Liverpool in Madrid in June, Pochettino conceded: “My feeling is that, starting my sixth season, I need to lift a trophy – Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Premier League or Champions League. “If you ask me, this season is not about finishing in the top four to be successful – although, of course, maybe that matters for the club – it’s about winning some title.
“After last season’s Champions final, to be again in the top four and reach the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, it is like, ‘Come on!’
“You are always there but you cannot touch the glory – that is personally me. So my target, objective, aim, to be successful this season, is to lift a trophy.”
Having been three times a runner-up in different competitions since he arrived at Spurs, Pochettino now feels it is fair to expect his players to start thinking like winners. And club chairman Daniel Levy has backed him by bringing in Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon.
Pochettino said: “In the last five years we didn’t invest too much money if you compare with our contenders. But now the perception is that we invest a lot of money.
“I am more than happy because the pressure is always welcome. We need that pressure to give our best.
“Before we created our pressure internally ourselves, but now it is maybe better to feel that we are a top club investing money and that it is now compulsory to win some trophies.”
TOTTENHAM ASTON VILLA
JACK GREALISH leads Aston Villa at Tottenham today ready to show the Premier League – and England – he has grown up. Villa manager Dean Smith said: “He is a top player, the best I have coached, and has matured as a person and a player.
“I don’t think it was any coincidence that Gareth Southgate was watching us last season in the Championship. I am sure he aims to get into that England squad.”