Pochettino ‘focused on the present’ amid talk of player exodus
Mauricio Pochettino has told Tottenham’s players to keep their focus and the fans to trust his judgement amid mounting interest in the club’s star players.
Spurs have been Chelsea’s closest rivals in the Premier League title race and are the form team this year, having won seven games on the bounce before Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to the Blues.
Their performances have not gone unnoticed by Europe’s elite teams, with Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier and Dele Alli all reported to be attracting interest.
Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has even suggested Alli is exactly the type of player his previous manager Pep Guardiola would like to sign for Manchester City this summer.
Pochettino said he could make no guarantees on the future and referenced last week’s death of Tottenham under-23s coach Ugo Ehiogu as an example of the need to live in the present.
“I cannot guarantee anything in life. The most important is to enjoy the present,” Pochettino said.
“I am so sad, we have to enjoy the present and not think about the future.
“In the future we take the best decision for the club. After three years you can see how the team is improving every year and all our decisions so far are good.
“Trust in the club that we will take the best decision for the club to achieve, to improve next season again, that’s most important.
“We care a lot about the club and now we must focus on the present to try to help the team and club to be there if Chelsea drop points.
“It will be special if in the last season at White Hart Lane we win the Premier League.
“In the next three to four weeks we must give our best, big efforts for all of us, for the players to try to focus, don’t think about holidays, rumours, what will happen next season.
“I want the last three to four weeks the big effort from everyone to achieve. Then we can congratulate everyone and try next season.”