Daily Mail

POCH: I NEED ALL MY TEAM CAN GIVE

- by MATT BARLOW @Matt_Barlow_DM

MaUr Ic IO POchettInO gathered his tottenham squad on the eve of their return to the champions League and demanded one more push to complete the midwinter offensive.

Pochettino reminded his players how they were the best team in the Premier League since the start of December, despite a gruelling schedule which the manager feels has left them at a disadvanta­ge at almost every turn. still, they emerged with form strong and spirit unbroken and, when he searched the room for signs, he was pleased to detect the requisite desire ahead of this last-16 tie against Borussia Dortmund.

‘the extra charge is there,’ said Pochettino. ‘ You can feel the energy in the eyes of the players, it’s completely different. I don’t know why, but you can feel that it’s the champions League.

‘You can feel it’s going to be a massive game with, I hope, a full stadium at Wembley and the energy and motivation is going to be there. If not, we’re not ready to compete in this type of situation and you can start to think we have some problems, but I think we’re going to find the energy.’

this is tottenham’s 20th fixture in all competitio­ns since the start of December. they have lost five, drawn at Barcelona, and won the rest. In their past 12 Premier League games, they have collected 30 points. no other team has more.

the Dortmund game is their last before a 10- day breather until Burnley away, and Pochettino will reward them with time off.

‘I’m going to reward the players whatever happens against Dortmund,’ said the spurs boss. ‘they deserve some days off to spend time with the family and breathe a little bit, because the fixture schedule was crazy up until today. I saw the other day that from the beginning of December, we were the best team in the Premier League. that spoke very highly of the squad, and they fully deserve all the credit.

‘the players are giving their best in difficult circumstan­ces and I’m so proud to be in front of them.’

Danny rose is not fit to start tonight after suffering a cut to his shin against Leicester on sunday.

‘One more day and maybe he’s able to play,’ said Pochettino, reiteratin­g his complaint about playing on sunday, not saturday.

Jan Vertonghen, expected to deputise at left-back, revealed that injured harry Kane, Dele alli and Ben Davies will be back for the return leg in Germany in three weeks.

‘ We feel good as a team, so strong,’ said Vertonghen. ‘We know a couple of guys will come back after the first leg as well.’

spurs beat Dortmund home and away in this competitio­n last season and, despite their resurgence under Lucien Favre, this might be as good a time as any to face the Bundesliga leaders, with no wins in three games and a flu bug rampant at the club.

Win, and Pochettino will be confident of avoiding defeat in the second leg, having seen his team draw at Barcelona, real Madrid and Juventus in the past 18 months.

Vertonghen extended the call to arms to supporters, who have cooled on the Wembley experience as the move into the new £850million stadium has been delayed.

Fewer than 30,000 turned out for the Premier League game against Watford last month but more than 75,000 are expected tonight.

‘home advantage is big in the knockout phase of the champions League,’ said Vertonghen. ‘It helps when the stadium is full and rocking.

‘We became footballer­s to play in these games at Wembley, one of the best stadiums in the world.

‘We had some great games there last season and definitely need that again. It gives you a great lift.

‘We need everyone behind us, it might give us an extra boost.’ TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (probable, 4-3-3): Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweire­ld, Vertonghen; Sissoko, Winks, Eriksen; Lamela, Moura, Son. BORUSSIA DORTMUND (probable, 4-2-3-1): Burki; Hakimi, Diallo, Toprak, Schmelzer; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Philipp, Guerreiro; Gotze.

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GETTY IMAGES Rallying call: Mauricio Pochettino wants a big effort from his Tottenham players
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