Winning new fans gives me real buzz
Poch is so proud
MAURICIO POCHETTINO says winning new fans and giving them a team to be proud of is more important than winning the FA Cup.
The Tottenham boss claims his side won an army of new supporters on the back of Tuesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw with Juventus. He insists building a team to consistently compete to win in Europe and the Premier League takes priority over domestic cups. Pochettino, whose side face Rochdale in the fifth round tomorrow, said: “If you say, ‘Tottenham is playing well, showing massive performances, but it is nothing if you don’t win’, that is not true. “Football is about being able to enjoy. The people pay their tickets to enjoy their team playing well. “Do we want to win trophies? Of course. We want to win trophies and celebrate with our fans. “But I am a positive person. And for sure if it takes one year, two years, five years, we are going to win the big trophies one day. “It’s about setting a foundation fans can enjoy for the rest of their lives. The capacity to win big things. “Three-and-ahalf years ago, the club wasn’t in that position to compete in the best competitions, in the Champions League. “Today we start to change that vision about Tottenham. You need time. If we are able to achieve this, of course, we ® are happy. But if not, the legacy is there.
“To win the Champions League would change everything and how we are perceived in the world. The draw with Juventus is massive.
“It’s the best competition in the world. To win some domestic trophies would be fantastic.
“But Spurs have a lot of fans today because we have drawn with Juventus. That is the truth.
“People have been calling me from Argentina and everywhere and saying, ‘Wow, Tottenham, Tottenham, Tottenham’.
“There has been a lot of examples of coaches who win trophies like the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and yet six months later were sacked.
“We need to think about winning big trophies like the Champions League. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to win the FA Cup or League Cup. But you need to put the focus on finishing in the top four.”
Biggest
Pochettino is so confident his side can challenge the best teams in Europe for the biggest trophies he is already worried about how to keep their feet on the ground.
He said: “Success changes people, creates crazy men. I hope to see us keep winning trophies. But when people have success, then you can judge them.”
New signing Lucas Moura could start, but Pochettino will rest players against Rochdale including Harry Kane, who should make the bench despite a twisted ankle.
Dale chairman Chris Dunphy accused Pochettino of “ignorance” for describing the League One club’s Spotland pitch last week as “a massive risk” to players.
But with the surface now relaid, Pochettino said: “I want to apologise if anyone took it the wrong way. I wanted to ensure their players and my players would be safe.
“I congratulate them. The effort was huge to put in a new pitch.”