“And, you know, I think our philosophy is maybe different to another club. It is to build today a strong team for the future, setting the basis and the good job that we have done is reflected in the results and is a consequence.”
In profit, with a reduced wage bill, average age to the squad and numbers. Spurs are very much leaner. Leaner, also literally, in the exacting physical conditioning Pochettino has demanded from his players.
It helps to achieve that conditioning with young players prepared to work harder; prepared to do the double-sessions Pochettino still expects, on occasions, even this deep into the season.
Pochettino’s demeanour has shifted in recent weeks. Asked whether he can bring Spurs their first league title since 1961, the Argentine said: “The theory is perfect but we need to deliver it. In football all is possible; all is possible. Why not? We need to believe. We need only belief and then after, we will see what happens.”
There is a growing confidence, especially when Pochettino declares that this is fun. “Is it the most enjoyable time of my career? Yes, maybe, yes if I’m honest,” he said. But then Pochettino also knows that his stock is soaring.
Spurs are, perhaps understandably, irritated when the merits of Pochettino as a future Manchester United or Chelsea manager are debated but, without a doubt, other clubs are watching his progress.
What is also fascinating is that while much of the attention has focused on how young and vibrant Pochettino’s team is – most notably with 19-year-old Dele Alli and Harry Kane and Eric Dier, both 22 – the manager himself is only 43. Of the managers in the top four he is 19 years younger than the next youngest – City’s Manuel Pellegrini. Arsène Wenger and Claudio Ranieri are also in their sixties.
Pochettino laughed when this was put to him. “Football is sometimes a strange combination,” he said. “You know, we’ll see. We will see at the end of the season whether the combination we have – young manager and young squad – is the right one.”
There is a clear approach with chairman Daniel Levy, who is spending more time on the plans for Spurs’ new stadium, allowing Pochettino, along with head of recruitment Paul Mitchell – who followed him from Southampton – and head of coaching and player development John McDermott, much more control in shaping the football side of the club. They are a very tight triumvirate.
“For us the objective was to set out our main principles, our philosophy on the team, on the club and I think that where we are today we are happy and are in a good place so far,” Pochettino said. “It’s important to have a plan. But you need to take positive results or the plan is in the bin, no?”
In saying that he was also at pains to play down suggestions that Sunday’s encounter could be “decisive”. Nevertheless if Spurs beat City the focus and attention – and the pressure – on them will grow.
After last Saturday’s defeat by Spurs, Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores approvingly described Pochettino’s team as “animals”; the best team he had faced this season. “Like lions, no?” Pochettino said. “I think this is what managers want.”
- Telegraph