Spurs lost 2-0 at Crystal Palace in the FA Cup
on Sunday, just three days after they fell to Chelsea on penalties in
the semi-final of the League Cup.
The Argentine manager, while disappointed
about the two defeats, has doubled down on his long-held contention that
it is more important for the team to qualify for the Champions League
each season than to win silverware.
“We are going to create a debate that
to win a trophy is going to help the club,” he said after defeat for
his much-changed team at Palace.
“I don’t agree with that. That only builds
your ego. In reality the most important thing is being consistently in
the top four and playing in the Champions League. That is going to help
the club to achieve the last step.”
Pochettino
has credit in the bank with fans for making Spurs regular Champions
League participants in recent years but some supporters are becoming
restless as the wait for a trophy goes on — the last time they tasted
success was in the League Cup in 2008.
“Of course I am disappointed because, after
Thursday and today again, out of two competitions, you feel
disappointed. You can’t feel anything different,” said Pochettino, who
has yet to win a trophy in his managerial career.
“But now we have to be positive. We are still
in two competitions, in a good position in the Premier League and the
Champions League is a massive motivation for the whole club. We have to
be strong.
“Now the realistic targets are trying
to be in the top four, try and be close to Manchester City and
Liverpool and reduce the gap.”
The problem for Pochettino, who is preparing
his injury-ravaged side to face Watford on Wednesday, is that he is
walking a tightrope.
Spurs, third in the Premier League, four
points ahead of Chelsea and seven clear of Arsenal and a charging
Manchester United, are glancing nervously over their shoulders as much
as they are looking up to Liverpool and Manchester City.
Kane, Alli out
Being out of the two domestic cup competitions
may help the club, who face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League
last-16 next month, by allowing them to narrow their focus.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool appear to have
benefited from early FA Cup and League Cup exits but the problem
Pochettino faces is that their league form is also patchy and he will
likely be without talisman Harry Kane and Dele Alli until March.
Spurs have lost two of their past four league matches and needed a last-gasp Harry Winks strike to beat Fulham last week.
One positive for Pochettino is that Son Heung-min is back, boosting options up front.
Son has missed the past three games while on
international duty with South Korea at the Asian Cup but their surprise
quarter-final exit to Qatar means he is back earlier than expected.
“On Sunday we were with him on the training ground in the morning,” said Pochettino.
“He’s so tired, he played three games. Very
tough games. Of course not too much energy on Sunday, but we hope he’ll
be available and ready on Wednesday to help the team.”
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min could be back in action against Watford
