Pochettino: We can catch City without big spending
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is adamant money will not be the overriding factor as Tottenham try to mount a challenge to Manchester City next season. Spurs go into tonight’s clash with Brighton 20 points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s City — who were crowned champions on Sunday. City are set to spend big again in the summer to maintain their dominance in the Premier League and have another crack at Champions League glory. Spurs boss Pochettino knows he cannot hope to splash out as much as Guardiola but the Argentine, who says he will not be scouting for players at the World Cup, insists money isn’t everything. He said: ‘It is difficult (to compete with City in the transfer market) but it’s not all about money — though it helps. ‘It’s like happiness. It’s not that if you’re a billionaire you’re going to be happy, but sure that helps. In football it’s the same. ‘The day we arrived here, the challenge was to reduce the gap (to the top four). Now we are there but most important is we are there with a completely different way and tools than Manchester City and United.’ Pochettino will recall Toby Alderweireld for tonight’s visit to Brighton amid the contract dispute that has put the defender’s future in doubt. Alderweireld’s last appearance was in the FA Cup tie against Rochdale on February 18 and he has not played a Premier
League match since October. The Belgian will travel to the Amex Stadium as Pochettino rotates his squad before Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.