Pochettino knows how stadium crippled rivals

MAURICIO POCHETTINO is at pains to avoid the comparisons. On the day of a North London derby, the last thing he would surely want to do is admit he now knows how Arsene Wenger must have felt.

For it was Arsenal all those years ago who found the weight of paying off a new stadium chained their ankles as they raced for success. Now it’s Tottenham who have a new home, at a cost of £1billion. They have been left with a debt of more than £600m.

Spurs have won just one of their first three Premier League fixtures and Pochettino admits he is starting to feel the squeeze.

‘Different clubs they ask the bank for £600m to invest in the team,’ he said. ‘Like Barcelona. They create a debt signing players and put the debt on the pitch, trying to win. We’re different.

‘We need to create the legacy for the future. In this period, we’re suffering the restrictions. We need to work hard to find a way to compete in this tough league.’

Pochettino says he is not concerned about his shortage of right-backs ahead of today’s clash. Spurs are without Kyle WalkerPeters and Juan Foyth, while possible makeshift replacement Eric Dier is struggling with a hip injury and is a doubt for the Emirates clash.

That leaves just Serge Aurier as the only recognised right-back but he has not featured since injuring himself playing for the Ivory Coast in the summer’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko is another possibility but — with Tanguy Ndombele’s injury — he is likely to be needed in the middle of the park.

It highlights Pochettino’s decision not to strengthen his squad in that area following the sale of Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid, but the manager is not worried.

‘It’s not a worry, only an issue we need to fix — try to find another solution,’ he said.

‘I am very optimistic that we will find the best way to perform. There’s no excuses.’