TOTTENHAM SEAL TOP-FOUR SPOT
MAURICIO POCHETTINO says Tottenham cannot continue to celebrate top-four finishes when they move to their new stadium next season. Spurs secured Champions League football with last night’s win and will finish in the top three for a third straight year with victory against Leicester on Sunday. But Pochettino knows that silverware must follow after four barren seasons under his management. ‘The first step was to be competitive and to reduce the
gap with the top four,’ he said after Harry Kane’s 28th Premier League goal of the season sealed Spurs’ first league double over Newcastle since 2004-05. ‘And after 23 years it is the first time we have finished above all of the London clubs. But next is to win a trophy, although we are not a club which wins a lot in recent years. ‘To create a winning mentality is a step-by-step process and then we have to challenge the big sides. ‘So it is massive to go to the new stadium with the Champions League. It will be another challenge. ‘We need to make that stadium our home. We will need time. We have the experience now to build and create something new. ‘It (Wembley) was so tough for the players and staff, maybe people did not realise. For the fans also. We talked too much about it too much at times. ‘So that’s why I feel so proud of the players to achieve this.’ Meanwhile, after watching Kane decide another game, Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez says his side need a new striker this summer. ‘We know we need to keep the same spirit and mentality next season,’ the Spaniard said. ‘And we need a little bit more quality to help. ‘We had 14 attempts away at Spurs, so we were doing something right.’ Benitez also confirmed that he had not used the stay in London to speak to owner Mike Ashley, who he is yet to meet face-toface during negotiations over a new contract. ‘There is no update (on my future),’ he said. ‘I was just focusing on the game.’