“I need to show respect because when I was a player he was a manager at Ajax and Barcelona and his background is wonderful and was one of the references as a young coach”, Pochettino said.
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United are still in the fight for a top four position, but have Arsenal, Man City and West Ham to deal with. Tottenham will have had a full week of rest and preparation for a Premier League fixture for the first time since February, which should ensure they have plenty of intensity to their game.
Spurs are clinging on to any remaining chance of the Premier League crown this season, as they’ve fallen seven points back of Leicester. Having not won the title in 55 years, the team will be desperate to get a result against the Red Devils to maintain a glimmer of hope for glory.
Tottenham home games haven’t been short of goals this season but we are at the business end of proceedings now and some of the players may tighten up under the pressure.
Nonetheless, Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino refuses to concede the title to the Leicester upstarts – who prior to last season had not played in the Premier League at all since 2004.
“He’s a very clever player but in football you can get a yellow card”, Pochettino said.
Manchester United have had five 0-0’s this campaign – a total which can not be bettered by any other club in the top flight. Currently, they are only four points adrift of their city rivals, but should they win against Tottenham, they will close in on that magical fourth spot in the table. But an often ponderous midfield could struggle to match the legs of Dier, Alli and Dembele, helping Tottenham to a vital three points. One gets the impression that Levy and company might have even been content with another season missing out on Champions League football.
The last time both the sides met, it was Tottenham who tasted the defeat through that own goal by Walker. Daley Blind, who had to be forced off against Everton, is also supposed to be fit to feature in this clash.
Pochettino has always remained positive about his future at White Hart Lane, despite reports suggesting Manchester United may be interested, but ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the Red Devils, the Argentinian was more forthcoming. However, captain Wayne Rooney and left-back Luke Shaw are still out with long term injuries.
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“This would be a good moment to change the history”, Pochettino said on Friday. And Lamela is expected to start this time after missing out the last two games. The striker became Tottenham’s most successful frontman with his goal against Liverpool. If Leicester win and Tottenham do not win, I think it is Leicester’s title.
