Soccer

Pochettino not thinking about title possibility just yet

Next 10 games critical to Tottenham’s chances of winning Premier League – manager

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: “We are very confident and in football a lot can happen. The only way we cannot achieve all that we can is if we stop working hard.” Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino: “We are very confident and in football a lot can happen. The only way we cannot achieve all that we can is if we stop working hard.” Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Reuters
Jacob Steinberg
Sat Jan 02 2016 - 01:00

Mauricio Pochettino

has said he will only allow himself to think about the possibility of Tottenham Hotspur winning the

Premier League

title if his team’s impressive form continues in their next 10 matches.

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Tottenham are four points off first place after their late win at Watford on Monday and they visit Everton tomorrow seeking their fourth consecutive victory but Pochettino is not getting carried away.

“We need to arrive in the last 10 games with the possibility to fight for the objectives,” the manager said. “The next nine, 10 games will maybe make the mark on how we finish in the table.”

Pochettino, who has indicated he will only make signings this month if they do not disrupt the balance of his squad, believes the maturity of his young side’s behaviour is a sign they will be able to handle the pressure of challenging for the title. Spurs are fourth and have only lost twice.

“I think we are very quiet,” Pochettino said. “The good thing is we don’t speak too much but we work very hard and I think it is most important how we behave inside, so that we can speak outside.

Develop new ideas

“We are very confident and in football a lot can happen. The only way we cannot achieve all that we can is if we stop working hard.”

Pochettino admitted the challenge for him and his coaching staff is to ensure they do not stand still. “I think this always is our challenge, to try to improve every day because if you stop improving you start to go backwards,” he said.

“How? This is a good question, it’s our quality and our creativity, and this is because we work every day. It’s our motivation to try to improve and develop new ideas.

Tottenham’s League title credentials have been backed by Everton manager Roberto Martinez.

Asked whether he believed their opponents this weekend were capable of mounting a serious title challenge, Martinez replied: “Why not? If anything this season is about consistency and whichever team is able to be consistent in the second half of the season will have a great opportunity to achieve a really, really good ending of the campaign.

“Spurs have . . . a strong mentality . . . and I don’t see them losing any sort of energy or focus over the next few months.” Guardian Service