LAMPS HANGS FIRE WITH JOSE
say ‘we were fantastic’ – but when you watch the game, the line between positive and negative was very thin.
“If we want to be a contender, we have to do our talking on the pitch.”
With their new stadium at White Hart Lane not ready for the removal vans, and Wembley unavailable for the EFL Cup game against Watford later this month, Spurs face playing at ‘home’ in a third different venue after asking for permission to play the game at MK Dons.
Pochettino refuses to use Tottenham’s travelling circus as a pretext for failure, saying: “It’s a challenge for us to show we are strong.
“Can it galvanise the squad? Yes, because we are ready to challenge everyone and show that we can fight despite all the problems.
“If we are going to be a victim of circumstances we are going to lose – and I don’t like to be a victim. When something wrong happens with my team, it’s my responsibility.
“I always tell the players, when they are disappointed if they do not play, the first thing they need to do is to sit in front of the mirror and not always to complain. I love players with character – if you have character it is because you are a winner, and you need to show you are a winner on the pitch.” The transfer deadline in Europe passed with no departures from Tottenham’s squad, but after a window when no big names arrived at the club and none left – despite persistent speculation about the futures of defenders Danny Rose and Toby Alderweireld – Poch was in prickly mood.
He said: “People love to create problems but I live in the reality.
“It’s not a problem if we lose two or three players – we have plenty more in the academy. I am more than happy to keep all the players if they want to play here and I am more than happy if they leave.
“We can play with the Under-23s. Believe me, it’s not a problem for me.” FRANK LAMPARD vows he will not allow a mouthwatering reunion with Jose Mourinho distract him from Derby’s promotion bid.
The Rams have been handed an EFL Cup trip to Manchester United, setting up a dugout duel between Lamps (above) and his former Chelsea boss.
Lampard said: “To go up against a manager I respect so highly and worked with is obviously a huge thing for me.
“Everything about the tie is interesting and very positive for Derby County.”
Now Lampard takes his team back to Hull, scene of their 4-0 midweek cup win.
And he stressed: “We’re going into the international break after this game, so we need to throw everything at it – in the right way – to try and get the right result to keep going well in the league.
“We’ve had three good performances on the trot, with three wins, and we’ve got some important momentum now. We must keep the application level high.”