I’m here to win title roars Mauricio
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is more concerned about winning the title than finishing above rivals Arsenal.
Victory in tomorrow’s north London derby would see Tottenham end the season above the Gunners for the first time in 22 years. That won’t be enough for Spurs boss Pochettino, who wants the club’s fans to get used to finishing above Arsenal every season. But that will take on secondary importance to silverware as catching and then overhauling leaders Chelsea at the top of the Premier League is a more pressing matter for the Argentine. He said: “I understand what it means to the fans to finish above Arsenal because for years Tottenham always was below them. “I can understand that it means a lot to be above them. But personally I want to win the title more than be above Arsenal. “My aim is to win every game and win titles, to develop our philosophy and create something special at Tottenham.
Painful
“My aim is to be the best, to be at the top. That is the challenge at Tottenham, to be above 19 teams, not just Arsenal.”
Pochettino does not expect any success over Arsenal to be a one-off.
It has been a painful wait for supporters, who have watched their team miss a host of opportunities including last season’s late collapse which saw them end below the Gunners in the table.
Former Southampton boss Pochettino added: “I don’t care what happens with Arsenal, with all due respect. What I care about is what happens with us.
“My only interest is to improve every season. Three years ago the challenge for us was to reduce the gap on the top four – now we are talking about trying to win the Premier League.
“It is fantastic the place we are in. I think we are sure we will arrive with the momentum to achieve big things.
“The club is working hard and working well. When it is so close, only four points ® with five games to play, I will be very disappointed if we don’t win the title.”
Arsenal are 14 points behind in-form Spurs and even with a game in hand would not be able to catch them if they lose.
It will be the last derby at White Hart Lane after the club confirmed they will play at Wembley next season.
Pochettino wants the fans to make it special and keep them hot on the heels of Antonio Conte’s leaders.
He added: “We feel every time that we play, it is the last game. Our fans are so excited, and our players too.
“I think that feeling and that energy that our fans translate to the team is amazing. And it is key, to push you and help you to give your best.
“I think all that we are achieving at White Hart Lane is a big percentage because of our fans too.
“We compete against a very good team like Arsenal. They have fantastic players. But all together we can give our best and try to get three points.”
Danny Rose (knee) is back in training but will not be ready to play this weekend while midfielder Mousa Dembele (ankle) is also struggling to be fit.
Christian Eriksen’s late goal sealed a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on Wednesday night to keep Tottenham’s title chase on track.
Pochettino has warned his players not to blow their bid for the crown by getting swept up in the emotion of the derby.
He said: “It’s a difficult job. You cannot ignore it is a derby, and all that means.
“But we are not only playing a derby, we are playing for another big thing, and that is to be alive and be in the title race until the end of the season.
“It is a tough job to try to be focused. It’s true that emotion will be involved, more than maybe in other games.
“But the team has learnt a lot, they know that football is emotion, you play with emotion. I think it’s not new, it will not be new for the team to feel that emotion on
Sunday.”