“We will have to work very hard, play as a team and do our best as individuals”.
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But Pochettino, just 18 months into a five year deal, says he is very happy at White Hart Lane and is focused exclusively on Spurs.
“I think I’ve explained in the last press conference, I always work for the present and for the future”.
“My job is to be focused, not to hear rumours”.
England stars Harry Kane and Dele Alli could start from the bench as Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino bids to keep his top stars fresh.
Spurs sold Andros Townsend to Newcastle in the week and defender Jan Vertonghen is facing a long spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in last weekend’s win at Crystal Palace.
Victory at Colchester would hand Tottenham 10 games in 35 days, but Pochettino continues to insist his squad boasts the depth to cope with such rigour. “We’ve spent time all together breaking up the routine and it was flawless”, the France skipper said.
Pochettino said Vertonghen’s injury was a chance for centre-back Kevin Wimmer “to show his real quality” and added that he would promote 18-year-old defender Cameron Carter-Vickers to the first team, rather than buying extra cover for the Belgium global.
“They might have a few talented boys who can cause us problems, but I think I have got some talented boys in our squad that can cause them some problems”. It was a big test for the squad but we’re not anxious.
Of Townsend’s sale he said: “It was important for him to find a club that gave him the possibility to play consistently in the Premier League”.
“We kept a very good relationship and always it was about the player needing to play”.
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This will be the first time in the history of the two clubs that the senior teams will have ever played each other.
