Spurs boss sure to anger the Gunners ahead of derby but insists the table doesn’t lie

MAURICIO POCHETTINO believes Chelsea are now Tottenham’s biggest rivals – ahead of Arsenal.

The Argentine tackles both teams over the next week with the Blues up tonight followed by the Gunners at the Emirates on Sunday week.

But Pochettino reckons Maurizio Sarri’s men are the bigger foes because they are the more dangerous.

He said: “It’s a good signal our fans want more every season and with rivalry, always you look at the teams above you.

“For us, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham have been our biggest rivals. But I think that has changed a bit because of our positions in the table.

“In the last few years Chelsea were always on the top and Arsenal, after 21 or 22 years, were below us again.”

Spurs have finished above Arsenal in the Premier League twice in a row to end over two decades of dominance by the Gunners.

Now they are seeking consecutive league wins over Chelsea for the first time since August 1987.

But while Spurs chase success, Pochettino fears his stars are risking injury and will be left burned out by the time England play in next summer’s Nations League finals. He is worried the games in June come too soon after a potential FA Cup or Champions League final appearance, and that his players could be shattered by then. Nine of Spurs’ 12 World Cup representatives have suffered muscle problems this season, although Christian Eriksen is fit to make his first start since September against Chelsea this evening.

But Davinson Sanchez and Kieran Trippier are both sidelined by injury.

Pochettino said: “Today the technology, sports science and the medical staff are fantastic.

“But we’re pushing players to the limit. The line between getting injured and staying fit is so thin. We don’t realise that we’re playing with the health of the players.

“They’re human, they are young, they need to enjoy life, too. They need to spend energy with their families, kids, girlfriends – and the guys that are not with girlfriends need to try to find one!

“We need to be careful. I know the business is crazy today and it’s not easy to understand.

“Yes, of course am concerned.

“We’re going to finish in the league on May 12 and we hope to be in the FA Cup or Champions League final.”

England may have benefited from more competitive fixtures – but Pochettino fears clubs now have less control over the use of their players than they did I for friendlies. He said: “We can only control what we’re doing here.

“But they leave again when the September internationals arrive and again in October and November – it’s 15 days you lose control of the players. “They then arrive back here and they’re excited to train, but they need to relax.

“We put a lot of emphasis on looking after them but, in the end, when the competition arrives, the competition does not wait for you. And who pays? The club.” Harry Kane to score first