“I’ve been waiting for someone to say that for ages now!”
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His team have a long way to go to emulate the success of Ferguson’s Manchester United, but Pochettino wants to replicate the Scot and build his own legacy in north London.
“I think that is very important”.
A number of Tottenham’s rivals face a summer of upheaval – Manchester City and Chelsea will both have new managers next season, while it remains unclear whether Manchester United will replace Louis van Gaal. “Not that we need much because we have a good squad already”. I feel the love from the beginning, from the very first day. But the players want to stay here and bring this club to the new stadium and play in the Champions League.
Tottenham play Chelsea on Monday night, knowing they must win at Stamford Bridge to keep the Premier League title race going to the penultimate weekend of the season. If I can help with my new contract and if Leicester drop points on Sunday I think it is welcome.
“Tottenham have unbelievable potential”.
But after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations the 44-year-old said yesterday: “To stop the speculation, we reached a verbal agreement with the club to extend my contract here for two years more until 2021”.
“We have a very strong squad, young, with potential to be a top team”.
“We spoke before with Jesus [Perez, the assistant head coach] and all the staff and it is unbelievable”, said Pochettino.
One of Pochettino’s greatest successes has been Dele Alli, but the midfielder will miss the rest of the campaign after receiving a three-game ban for punching West Brom’s Claudio Yacob on Monday.
Pochettino said: “Maybe that’s the first time in history that has happened?”
“I will have a word with Eden before the game, although I will make a joke of it. I won’t conduct a half-hour interview with him”.
Hazard, who named the PFA player of the year after inspiring Chelsea to the top-flight crown last term, has endured a forgettable season. “Everyone can make mistakes”.
“It is very important that he keeps his performance and all the levels of physical condition”, Pochettino said.
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‘Probably when we started the season, we had a few too many draws, and not many people thought we’d be where we are now’.
