Spurs ready to end 22 years of pain
POCHETTINO WANTS HIS TEAM TO GO ALL THE WAY THIS YEAR
ottenham Hotspur can end 22 years of mockery from the supporters of arch rivals Arsenal on Sunday, but for their ambitious manager Mauricio Pochettino it is a minor concern.
Arsenal have finished above Spurs every season since 1994-95 and their fans have taken to calling the day when they can no longer be overtaken by their local foes ‘St Totteringham’s Day’.
Spurs will finish above Arsenal if they beat them at White Hart Lane, but with Premier League leaders Chelsea currently just four points above them, Pochettino has weightier objectives in mind.
“My challenge and my aim is not to be above Arsenal,” Pochettino said in Friday’s pre-game press conference at the Spurs training ground in Enfield, north London.
“My challenge and my aim is to be above 19 teams and be on the top. That is my challenge, my aim, my dream.
“I don’t care what happens with Arsenal, with all my respect. What I care is what happens with us. That’s our big, big challenge at Tottenham.”
St Totteringham’s Day arrived in cruel fashion last season, after Spurs had emerged as the closest rivals to eventual champions Leicester City.
They needed victory at relegated Newcastle United on the final day to secure second place, but capitulated to a humiliating 5-1 defeat, enabling Arsenal to pip them after a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa.
Tomorrow’s game will be especially poignant for the home fans as it is due to be the final north London derby played at White Hart Lane.
Spurs will play their home games at Wembley next season before moving into their new home, which is being built on the site of their current stadium, in August 2018.
“Maybe it will be the last derby, but we are playing from the beginning of the season as if it’s the last game at White Hart Lane,” said Pochettino.
“Everyone behaves with an energy that is amazing and you can be sure Sunday is a special game and we will try altogether to win.”
It could also, potentially, be Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s final derby, amid ongoing uncertainty about his future at the club. The Frenchman has previously overseen 49 derbies, winning 22 and losing only seven.