Pochettino satisfied with Tottenham form but aware team ‘can do better’

Mauricio Pochettino believes his Tottenham side can still improve despite not losing in the Barclays Premier League since the opening weekend of the season.

A narrow 1-0 defeat at Manchester United back in August remains the only loss Pochettino’s men have tasted in league action and they welcome managerless Aston Villa to White Hart Lane on Monday night looking to maintain that sequence.

Despite the run, five draws mean Spurs have not managed to break into the top four during the opening 10 games but Pochettino reckons there is more to come from his young side.

“It’s true that we are very difficult for the opponent,” he said.

“Our mentality and the way we take every game, we show that we are very difficult team for the opponent. We need to carry on in the same way. We need to improve.

“In football you can always improve. We are very happy in the way the first 10 games in the Premier League have gone. But we can do better. This is our challenge.”

Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City have already visited White Hart Lane this season but none of them could leave with the three points, with champions City beaten 4-1 and Liverpool only able to draw in Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge.

And Pochettino reckons a better focus has made his side hard to play against at home, having lost six times in north London last year.

“Last season it was difficult for us to get the good and positive results from the beginning,” he added.

“This season we are much more focused, and more difficult for the opponents. This is only the beginning. It is only 10 games in the Premier League. We have a lot of games.

“But I think our mentality is right and it’s good. We need to keep working hard. We are in a very good place. But our aim is to go up and try to win the game and our challenge and our objective now is the next game – Monday against Aston Villa.”

The game against Villa on Monday night starts a run of three games in six days that includes a vital Europa League clash at home to Anderlecht before the small matter of a north London derby against Arsenal next Sunday.

But, despite former Spurs head coach Tim Sherwood losing his job as Villa boss last weekend, Pochettino will not take them lightly.

“In football, it is always difficult,” he said about the challenge of facing bottom side Villa.

“Every opponent and team is difficult. I always tell the players that it is important how we take the game to the players. We need to be focused and concentrate. We have a good example against Anderlecht and Bournemouth.

“Both these games were difficult, with different teams, a different style of football. But always it’s our problem, it’s in our heads, how we take. We need to be focused in every game, in every training session – and deliver all that we have worked on throughout the week.”

Related Topics