Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted it will be hard for him to compose himself during Tottenham’s final game and subsequent farewell to White Hart Lane.
The Lane has been home to Tottenham Hotspur since it’s construction in 1899, but on Sunday, Spurs will take to the pitch there for the very last time. With a farewell ceremony to follow the final whistle, it is all set to be an emotional goodbye for those associated with the club. In his pre-match conference Pochettino said:
“”I am a very sensitive person and so emotional it will be difficult not to cry”
“This type of stadium is difficult to describe the feeling and emotion. It is so special. You can feel and smell the history”
“”I think for the fans it means a lot but in the same way, I don’t want to be wrong, but I think our fans are so excited to welcome the new stadium too.”
When on the topic of the new stadium, Pochettino also explained that he’ll be looking to retain the same atmosphere and ‘smell’. He said:
“For me the most important thing is to know that always the heart of White Hart Lane, and soul and the smell, we will keep there”
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This season Spurs have been unbeaten at White Hart Lane in the Premier League and will hope to earn their 17th home victory tomorrow, against United. Next season, Spurs will play at Wembley Stadium, while the Lane is being demolished and the new stadium is still being built. Tottenham struggled to bring their home form to the national stadium in this season’s European fixtures, winning just once in 4 matches. Domestically, Spurs also lost their only cup outing at Wembley in the FA Cup semi final to champions, Chelsea. Pochettino insists that Tottenham must work harder to make Wembley their home.
“When I arrived here, one of the mistakes I made was that I said the size of White Hart Lane maybe doesn’t help us in the way we want to play” Pochettino said.
“I received a lot of criticism for that. How it has changed, three years later, now it’s, ‘Maybe Wembley is so big.'”
He added: “Next season, there’s no excuse. Next season it’s Wembley or Wembley.”
What about you? Will you be struggling to hold back the tears? And do you have a favourite memory from White Hart Lane?
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