Pochettino: Spurs must tighten up

Manager Mauricio Pochettino wants Tottenham to develop a mean defensive streak after a slow start to the new Premier League season.
Spurs narrowly lost the opening match 1-0 away to Manchester United and should have beaten Stoke last weekend only to let a 2-0 lead slip during the closing stages to end up with a draw.

Saturday’s opponents Leicester, by contrast, have made an excellent start under new manager Claudio Ranieri, following up the 4-2 rout of Sunderland with victory at West Ham.

Pochettino, though, is determined to keep a sense of perspective as his side look to tighten up at the back.

“The season is very long and we need to keep the same level, improve defensively and be more consistent,” the Argentinian said.

“People will say that we need (to buy) offensive players, but we need to be more consistent because we conceded a lot of goals last season.

“It wasn’t a problem to score – it was conceding goals (which cost Spurs) and we need to improve that this season.”

Pochettino has been impressed by the initial signs of promise from Ranieri’s Foxes, who scored three goals in the first 45 minutes against Sunderland.

“Yes, Leicester have started well, but they also played well last season,” he said.

“They have since signed some good players and have a good organisation.

“Ranieri has a lot of experience in football and so we expect a very tough game from Leicester.”

Pochettino has been happy with the response and attitude from his squad after the disappointment of letting their advantage slip during the last 15 minutes against Stoke.

“Our job was to give the truth to the players and for them to realise the problem we had during the game,” he told Spurs TV.

“The attitude of the players has been fantastic during the week and now we need to deliver against Leicester.”

Pochettino may include Cameroon forward Clinton N’Jie in the squad after his arrival from Lyon.

Tottenham confirmed on Friday that midfielder Alex Pritchard, 22, had signed a new four-year contract which runs until 2019.

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