Mauricio Pochettino is confident Tottenham have wherewithal to win in Azerbaijan

Despite the imminent arrival of the ailing Premier League champions Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino fielded a strong side at Qarabag’s Azersun Arena in Baku.

Tottenham will be looking for more of the same when they welcome Chelsea to White Hart Lane on Sunday in a London derby.

The Special One may simply be trying to lower expectations of a miraculous recovery around Stamford Bridge, although defeat would leave them with a 13-point deficit which could be too much to make up.

But the move paid off as Kane nodded in the victor to ensure Tottenham’s longest-ever journey for a competitive fixture – a 5,000-mile round trip to the capital of Azerbaijan – proved worthwhile as they made the last 32 with a match to spare.

We will make sure we will arrive in a good condition to play Chelsea.

Club legend Micky Hazard believes in-form Tottenham are firmly in the mix for the Premier League title this season, though admits their inexperience could cost them the ultimate prize.

Extending that record into last season and they have only lost twice in their previous 20 Premier League matches.

Tottenham have only won one of their last 12 games against the Blues in all competitions and will be hoping home comforts can help them beat their rivals for a second successive season.

“Last season’s 5-3 win on New Year’s Day is their only victory over Chelsea in the last dozen meetings between the clubs”.

“That match was very special”, said Pochettino. And yet he qualified all of this praise by reminding everyone that Spurs are in a very enviable position, in terms of their players, the running of the club and, most importantly, the lack of pressure compared to the relentless focus that Chelsea are under. You can bring in young players without problems, even if they’re not ready. “We need to eat well, sleep well, recover and do the right things”.

“We met a couple of times after he left Espanyol, when he was preparing himself for the next step”.

“I do still believe we need a wonder signing to turn us from where we’re at into a top-drawer team but there is a real chance of finishing in the top four this season”.

Prior to their Champions League victory, The Blues also enjoyed a premier league win over Norwich City Which seems to have set the pace for more great performances for Chelsea. I think they bring the right players in.

Based on the likely approaches, the game is likely to be extremely tight and I’m hardly sticking my neck out when I predict a 1-1 draw. But I have respect for him. “I think a really, really, really a very good team”.

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Their boss Gurban Gurbanov said: “Of course we opportunities to score. They are in the Europa League, in the group phase, and no one cares about that at this stage”, he added.