Pochettino highlights City’s biggest strength ahead of CL quarter-finals

Tottenham take on Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League quarter final tonight in what will be the biggest game of the season for both clubs.

Neither club has ever progressed to the semi-final of the competition in their history.

Pep Guardiola’s side are attempting to do the impossible and win all four major trophies this season, among which the Champions League looks like the toughest ask.

City have proven with their performances over the last couple of seasons that they are one of the best teams in world football.

Pochettino has said that what makes this City team so good is their work off the ball. The Argentine highlighted that while everybody knows how good City are with the ball, it is the intensity that they show when they are out of possession that sets them apart from the rest.

He also added that Spurs have to match their opponent’s intensity if they wish to get a result tonight.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, the 46-year-old told Football.London, “What City are achieving is because they match all their opponents in aggressivity. They run the same and then they show their quality and win the games.

“If we were not capable of matching Southampton and Burnley in their motivation and desire, in the end you are going to….you need massive talent if you are not able to run and fight because every time you run you’re going to score. If not it’s impossible.

“Today in football the balance is close between all the teams. The first thing you need to do is run, to fight. De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Jesus, Aguero, players who before they start to play, they run and press and are aggressive.

“They fight for every single ball. Today that is football. The strength of City is not their quality – it’s first of all their desire and their will to fight and to match all opponents. And then because they have unbelievable quality, they can win more games than they lose.”

Related Topics