But some have left.
Pochettino: “Yes, we lost Kyle Naughton who went to Swansea and Aaron Lennon (to Everton). We believe in what we have; our base and we have a team that’ll compete, one that will fight. The most important thing is that we believe (in ourselves) and hope that we haven’t upset Chelsea too much for when we play them on the 1st March.”
On Saturday you play in the North London derby at White Hart Lane against Arsenal. I’m sure the people around the club have told you about how important it is, the rivalry between the two sides?
Pochettino: “Yeah, we’ve already played them away at the Emirates and we drew 1-1. We’ve seen how much it means to everyone. I think it’s the the real London derby. It’s special game as the sides are separated by so little – we’re almost level on points in the league. We’re hoping for a great game.”
Do you notice huge a difference between Southampton and Tottenham? Do you feel like Tottenham has more history and as such is the bigger side?
Pochettino: “Yes. They’re completely different to each other. Southampton have invested a lot of money and maintained their position in the league; built on what we started there but what is the history at Tottenham and the culture here is very different to that at Southampton.”
Southampton have done really well this season and find themselves in a great position under Ronald Koeman. Their momentum has continued and they could possibly make history.
Pochettino: “You need to add that they spent around €80-90m in the summer. They also have a fighting, determined dynamic. When we arrived in the middle of the season they were the team which had conceded the most goals in the Premier League. They had a lot of problems. Lallana wasn’t playing, nor was Luke Shaw. Calum Chambers was playing in the under 18s and in a year and half we changed everything and finished 8th, bringing through a lot of young players.”
And now they’re competing for a Champions League spot with Tottenham, Arsenal and with Liverpool.
Pochettino: “It’s always easier to join a club where the dynamic and winning mentality is already in place than the one we inherited when we went there, with all the problems. We had to reinvent the club, to give them back things which they had lost. We left a team that basically trains itself after a year and a half at Southampton. And because of everything we had achieved and implemented at Southampton the players trained at an incredible level, too. To leave and start from scratch here at Tottenham, from zero, was a big challenge. But little by little we’re getting there..”
Is the objective at Tottenham to qualify for the Champions League?
Pochettino: “The truth is we’re ambitious and we want to be there but when you look clubs such as Liverpool, Emirates Marketing Project, Arsenal, Chelsea and United you realise that qualifying for the Champions League is very difficult. They are powerful sides. Manchester United have spent a monstrous amount this summer, for example. But if we have to compete with them, we will. We have that winning mentality.”
They’re only three points ahead of you.
Pochettino: “Everything is possible in football. The reality is, financially, we are way behind them.”
You signed a long-term contract here at Tottenham and your future looks to be in England but do you think you’ll return to Spain and manage Espanyol again in the future?
Pochettino: “You never know in the future or where it could take you. But you know that Espanyol will always be special to me and that I’ll never close the door on a return there.”
I think the biggest positive of the English league is the atmosphere; the passion from the fans. In your opinion, which ground has the best atmosphere in the Premier League?
Pochettino: “I think all of the grounds in the Premier League are similar but also have their special parts. But for me, the most tension I felt wasn’t actually in stadium from the Premier League but from a side in League One: Sheffield United. When we played against them in the semi-final, a team with a lot of history but currently in the lower leagues, there was an incredible atmosphere with 35,000 making a fantastic atmosphere. Much better than I’ve experienced at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge or the Emirates.”
And what about the player that has impressed you most in the Premier League?
Pochettino: “There are so many but for me, especially this season, it has to be Hazard. He’s one of the best players in the Premier League.”
And from your own team, who has perhaps surprised you more than most?
Pochettino: “It has to be the emergence of Harry Kane, who has been a revelation in English football.”
Do you think it will be difficult for you to keep him at Tottenham?
Pochettino: “No, he’s just signed a new deal at Tottenham to stay for another five seasons. Unlike in Spain, there aren’t any release clauses.”
So unless he wants to leave, you won’t be letting him go?
Pochettino: “No. If somebody wants to sign him they will need to negotiate with the club. He was born here; he came from the academy and his dream is to play for Tottenham for the rest of his career. We hope that happens and that he continues to improve and score goals.”