Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham are no longer concerned by finishing above Arsenal... titles are now the focus

Looking up | Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham are focusing on titles, not finishing above Arsenal
AP

Mauricio Pochettino says it is no longer a concern of his to finish above Arsenal in the Premier League, insisting that Tottenham now have bigger priorities.

Pochettino arrived in north London from Southampton five years ago this month and was tasked with bridging the gap to the top four.

In 2017 the Argentine lead Spurs to their first finish above Arsenal for the first time in 22 years, sealed with a 2-0 win over Arsene Wenger’s side at White Hart Lane.

While a trophy still evades Pochettino, the foundations are beginning to fall into place. Their new 62,062-seat stadium is finally open and their Hotspur Way training ground will rival any in the world. A first appearance in a Champions League semi-final last week proved this side are still moving forward, and for Pochettino Arsenal are no longer a concern.

"We knew Tottenham had a massive history and top players but never really believed they could win and be in the final of the Champions League,” Pochettino said on The Premier League Show.

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"We are close to the dream of winning the Champions League and the Premier League but we must be focused.

"In the last five years we focused on reducing the gap and being above Arsenal. Now we must be focused on winning titles."

While Spurs have invested in their facilities and opened perhaps the best stadium in Europe, both Manchester City and Liverpool have pumped money into their playing squads and, with Jurgen Klopp’s side a point behind City in the title race, Spurs are 21 points adrift of the top two, having sat second at the halfway point during the season.

While chairman Daniel Levy insisted earlier this season that the stadium debt would not impact Pochettino’s transfer budget, the manager is less optimistic.

“Of course, the reality is that it is difficult to compete with another club that are only focusing on improving the squad,” he added when asked if it would have an effect.

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“Maybe I can wait, because in my career I am young, but with the players it is different.”

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