Chelsea manager Mourinho has also said he has no sympathy with Spurs over their gruelling fixture list ahead of Sunday’s lunchtime clash at White Hart Lane.
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“Chelsea have very good players and a great manager”, said Pochettino.
Meanwhile, Spurs as a team are on a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions (five wins).
Spurs, in fifth, are favourites to pick up three points and heap more misery on Jose Mourinho’s stuttering side.
In truth, it will take a big response for Chelsea to stay in the hunt for Champions League qualification and they can not afford another extended spell of disappointing results if they are to catch the likes of Spurs before May. But every EPL team has shown they have significant weaknesses this year, which means it’s still anyone’s game.
Extending that record into last season and they have only lost twice in their previous 20 Premier League matches.
With a top four place very much up for grabs as well, a win against their rivals could provide a big boost for the side in their efforts to achieve that aim. Tottenham’s chances increased, but they still weren’t able to find a way through Qarabag’s defense in open play. It is good when they are linked.
His focus until the turn of the year is on Chelsea finding momentum, continuing at a venue where they have one win in the last 10 visits and lost 5-3 on New Year’s Day in a performance which exposed frailties which are now familiar.
“He was very good with me when I was at Espanyol and he was at Real Madrid”.
Chelsea have ramped up their interest in Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele and are set to make a move for the player in January.
Hazard has scored in his last three encounters with Tottenham and this could lay the scene for him to rediscover the form he’s been missing this season.
Brazilian Ramires is also doubtful with a slight muscular injury picked up in training in Israel.
The last time these two teams met was at Wembley in March, when Chelsea won 2-0 to take the Capital One Cup.
But Mourinho – whose Chelsea side languish in 15th position in the table despite having won the league in May – has suggested Pochettino’s side have done well this term because they lack the expectations to win trophies like the Blues, Manchester United, Manchester United and Arsenal.
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Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba claimed the current side lack leaders at the launch of his autobiography, but Mourinho said: “When you speak because you want to sell books, I don’t read”.
