Tottenham Hotspur have come a long way in five years under Mauricio Pochettino, and nothing epitomises that more than the club’s Champions League journey.
When the Argentine took over in North London, Spurs were on the fringes of top European football, but Poch has well and truly taken them leaps and bounds beyond.
Tottenham transformed over the space of two seasons into a Champions League regular, and have now featured in the past three competitions.
However, they took another huge step forward this season, as they turned from regular to contender, qualifying for their first ever semi-final and then Champions League final.
Spurs have reportedly pocketed just under £90m from their European campaign so far (talkSPORT), and reports suggest Pochettino may be given as much as £100m in the summer (Sun).
The club haven’t bought a single new player in over 15 months, and Pochettino has now claimed that things will have to change next season as they close the chapter on their Spurs project.
He said (Football London): “After five years, I will repeat, after five years, it’s a moment to close a chapter. Because it’s not going to be the same on July 1 or 6 or 7 when we start the pre-season it’s so important to have a clear idea of the project, the way, the challenge that we’re going to design to have ahead.
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“It was very clear five years ago that the priority was always going to be, until the stadium is finished the stadium, and finishing the facilities here at the training ground. We feel so proud because our capacity to manage the situation, that is very difficult, how it affects the football side at different clubs is amazing.
“To have this capacity to manage both and after five years be successful, because for the first time in our history Tottenham is going to play a Champions League final and to finish the best stadium in the world. It’s a massive success. That’s why we feel so proud of these five years. But what is next? What next? That’s the question.
“What next and how we explain to you and what you translate to our fans, what we want for the future of our club. Of course you know it’s difficult for me to explain that. It’s a conversation with Daniel, I need to listen to Daniel, he’s the boss, the owner. I need to know what I explain to you and you translate to our fans.
“Until today it was so clear. Our ambition brought us to play a final of the Champions League. No-one believed, if we said five years ago, in five years we are going to open the best stadium in the world and play the quarter-final and semi-final of the Champions League at our new stadium and then play in the final of the Champions League, you would say ‘what do you drink? I want the same’. Yes, but today it is reality. It’s reality because of our ambition, our capacity, the effort, that is why I’m not tired to repeat that our players are heroes.
“They need to feel the love from everyone at the club, of course our fans because of all the effort we are doing. The players, the staff, all the people who cannot put a face on but they are there working a lot. I want to reward them with our words because all that we suffer to arrive and live this dream and this happiness today at this amazing club, it’s priceless.
“With all the money to win trophies, to live this type of moment, that’s why I broke down and started to cry. It was an amazing moment. When you go back, we had very small dreams, but when you achieve one of the biggest dreams of your life, it’s difficult to keep inside. Thats why now it’s a moment to enjoy, finish in the best way and play Sunday and prepare for the final, which will be an amazing moment for all our fans. After the final it will be a time to talk a lot and listen. What next?”
Spurs Web Opinion:
What next? Spurs need to invest heavily in the squad. We know that recent profits have been impressive, so it’s about time Levy pushed that cash back into the squad. Poch and Tottenham must open a new chapter, to go from contenders to Premier League winners.
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