MAURICIO PATIENTINO IN NO RUSH Spurs boss so calm on future
NO MORE BELE FLOPS
The Argentinian firmly believes Spurs will one day be one of the continent’s biggest clubs – but knows they are not there yet.
In order to back up that claim, Pochettino aims to bring new faces in during the summer to build a team equal to their new stadium.
The North London side have not won a trophy since the 2008 League Cup but the boss insists his players did him proud on Thursday – despite the 2-2 draw with Gent meaning their European dream is over for another season.
Pochettino said: “Going out of the Europa League is a big disappointment as it was a competition which excited me.
“The first leg was the problem – we didn’t play well.
“Thursday, having played with 10 men, was a night to feel proud of the players. They gave their best. We gave our all to try to win but it was impossible.”
Spurs currently sit third in the Premier League table – 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea with 13 games to go.
They welcome Stoke to White Hart Lane this afternoon but Pochettino already has one eye on his summer business.
He admits the club will be active when the transfer window opens and wants to add experience to a young side.
The Tottenham boss said: “Football is about quality – that is what we find in a TONY STENSON player. It is always about improving. We must add quality to the team if we want to fight for big things and we will try.
“I think it’s our job as a club to find the right player that can play for us and try to help the team improve.”
Pochettino himself wants to improve Spurs’ record in terms of silverware.
They have not won the title since 1961, not lifted the FA Cup in 26 years and their last League Cup triumph came almost a decade ago.
But he knows that these things do not happen overnight.
Pochettino said: “I think that we have pushed the expectation levels higher but that is because last season we were up there in the league and that is good. “But maybe we are not ready. “It’s like the stadium, if we want to move today we are not ready to play there. You need to wait and build the foundations. It’s about being patient.
“I know about the trophies, yes, but you know the important thing is the club.
“Our chairman has built the foundation – new facilities at the training ground and a new stadium to provide a bigger and better club.
“We’re on the way to building one of the best clubs in Europe but now we must be patient, work hard and try to find the players that we can add to achieve that.
“Work hard and be clever – that is very important.” SPURS should use their Europa League exit as inspiration in their quest for a league and cup double.
That is the rallying cry from Mousa Dembele (right) who sees only positives as he looks ahead to the rest of the season.
The Belgium international said: “It’s disappointing to lose and we are upset we are out but now it’s vital we bounce back.
“The future is simple – we are out of the Europa League and now it’s the FA Cup and Premier League.
“Forgetting Thursday will be easy. The feeling we have now is actually positive. We played so well with 10 men.
“If we can bring that kind of mentality, spirit and attitude to the Premier League and the cup we will do very well.”
Spurs face Millwall in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals and sit third in the Premier League, reasons to be cheerful for former Fulham man Dembele ahead of today’s Stoke test.
He said: “We want to win the title but every game is difficult and we know playing Stoke will be too.” TONY STENSON