PLANET

Poch: We can’t be compared to City.. they’re on another level

moment the club settles into the new stadium it will be easy to push the team and the club in a similar level that Manchester City is at.

“I think, for me, they are the best team today in England. I think fantastic players, an amazing manager and coaching staff.

“The quality of the club, the players, the coaching staff and Pep of course, make them a very difficult opponent and it’s a massive challenge for us to play against them.

“It will be an exciting game and it’s always to have a good experience against them.

“In football, nothing is impossible. But of course we are going to face a very good team, a very solid team, a team that have very good players.

“Of course Pep is one of the best managers in the world and, of course, the strategy of the game always makes it difficult.

“I don’t believe that in football you can find something that is impossible to do, but it will be difficult of course because we need to play well and perform in our best, have a bit of luck to win the game.” Pochettino, who expects to have fit-again Dele Alli ready to face City, gave a passionate defence of his under-fire keeper Hugo Lloris after his red card blunder at PSV Eindhoven. Pochettino added: “You need to be brave and love the risk. That’s why I respect a lot the keepers and for me it’s a position where I admire everyone. “It’s difficult to complain about the keeper. When I was a player and you put someone sometimes in goal, you realised how difficult it is to be a keeper.

“For me, all the keepers are strong and Hugo is so strong.

“That’s why he’s playing at this level and he was a world champion a few months ago.

“You need to be so strong to play in that position.”

Pochettino has insisted he has no intention of packing his bags and quitting Tottenham for Real Madrid as he pledged he will still be in charge when they move into their new stadium.

“When we move, I expect to move there,” said Pochettino.

“Only Daniel Levy can say ‘the club is going to move, but you, gaffer, no.’”

■ Tottenham will continue to play their home games at Wembley up to and including the game against Wolves on December 29.