My trophy seekers deserve more respect, claims Poch
MAURICIO POCHETTINO believes Tottenham are punching above their weight in English football as they try to end a nineyear trophy drought.
If Spurs win at Swansea tonight and Chelsea lose at home to Manchester City, the Premier League leaders will have only a four-point cushion at the top.
In most cases, Tottenham commit less to transfer fees and wages than the other clubs in the Premier League’s top six. Because of this, Pochettino argues it is unfair to expect his team to match the trophy haul of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
“I hear people say that Tottenham must win a trophy this season or next, but come on,” he said. “When you compare us with six or seven other clubs in the Premier League, you start to realise that we deserve a lot of credit.
“Nobody wants to win titles more than we do — the chairman, the players, the fans. But look at the other teams in the top six, look at the investment, look at the different things happening in the Premier League.
“Rather than talking about winning trophies, we need to see that Tottenham deserve full credit and to be shown more respect. We all want trophies but we need to be more realistic. Winning a trophy is not as easy as, for example, going to the shop and buying a pen.
“If at the end of the season we finish in the top four, it is good for us. I have heard both Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola saying that finishing in the top four of the Premier League is like winning a trophy elsewhere.
“It is very tough to finish in the top four. The competition is massive, so for Tottenham to be there, fighting, is a big credit to our players, the club, everyone. To be where we are is a massive achievement for us.”
Spurs’ top earners, Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris, are the only players to collect a six-figure weekly salary. That is in stark contrast to United, City and Chelsea, in particular, where a number of players are paid well in excess of £100,000 a week.
History also supports Pochettino: since winning the FA Cup in 1991, Spurs have just two major trophies: the League Cup in 1999 and 2008.
Despite those details, Pochettino knows expectations are high. When everyone is fit, Spurs’ starting XI is one In 2017, Betfair has had the best odds on all football in the top 4 English Divisions. Based on lowest overrounds and most top/joint prices for pre-match match odds between 1/1/17 and 18/3/17. Betfair
Sportsbook prices vs leading UK bookmakers. Data provided by TX Odds. Full terms at Betfair.com of the strongest in the division, and their best players are coveted by some of Europe’s top clubs. Those players are ambitious, too. Danny Rose, currently out injured, said earlier this season that he does not play football “for the fun of it”, while Eric Dier said the squad would be disappointed if, in five years’ time, they were still searching for their first winners’ medals.
So, Pochettino’s players believe they are good enough to win the prizes — and the Argentine is impressed with the mental strength they have shown recently. The Spurs manager added: “Since we lost 2-0 at Liverpool in February, the reaction has been very good. We are there now, competing and fighting.”