How Spurs have gone from brags to riches

TOTTENHAM manager Mauricio Pochettino believes the temperament of his squad has improved following a dressing down at Old Trafford.

Pochettino was agitated by players talking about winning the Premier League title after beating Manchester United 3-0 in August.

The Argentine thought that was premature and claimed attitudes have altered as Spurs have muscled their way into the title race with Liverpool and Manchester City.

‘After our victory at Old Trafford, I was so disappointed with some of the comments, the way we assimilated the victory,’ said Pochettino ahead of today’s clash with Bournemouth.

‘After that we improved a lot and learned. In football you always have to be respectful and talk on the pitch. We’re in a very good position — last 16 of the Champions League, semi-final of the Carabao Cup and third in the Premier League table.

‘I remember when we arrived it always was about how? How do we reduce the gap to the top? How can we be competitive in big games? How can we be consistent? How? How? How? After four- and- a- half years I think we’re in a very good position. But now the last step is the most difficult step. It looks so close but sometimes it’s not so close. That is why it’s tough to keep going.

‘In our first press conference after the World Cup I told you this is going to be one of the most difficult seasons for us. When many things were negative, when all the circumstances were not the best to start with... But we fought a lot and we took a massive challenge, fighting all together, and we’re doing a fantastic job.’

That has come in part because of Tottenham’s outlook. Pochettino would rather the celebrations be kept in-house, as they were after the 6-2 demolition of Everton. He wants any public merriment to wait until the club lifts silverware.

For that they need to keep their best players and Pochettino suggested a decision on Christian Eriksen’s future could be just around the corner.

Eriksen has 18 months left on his contract and the manager said: ‘The decision is going to happen, at the end of the season or another decision is going to happen in the next few days, in January.

‘Football is so dynamic. I hope we are going to make the best decision for the club and hope that the players can take the best decision for them and for their future and the club.

‘I think together we’ve created a massive platform that today Tottenham is enjoying because the players are enjoying that platform, the fans are enjoying, we are enjoying.’

Pochettino also intimated that teenager Oliver Skipp may be ready for a second league start.

‘You feel safe when he touches the ball,’ he said. ‘He’s 18 years old but when he touches the ball you’re relaxed. That gives us the possibility to give another opportunity (for Skipp) to play or be more involved and maybe to rest Moussa Sissoko.’