Pochettino on squad, targets & overseas player problems

Argentinian Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke with the media about the depth in his squad and reminded reporters that Premier League teams are only allowed a squad of 25 named players over the age of 21.



This seems to have been misinterpreted that the squad is too large and needs culling. In fact the number of non-home grown players needs to reduce before any new faces can be brought in, or some must leave after new faces have been brought in, which is a weak position to be in to sell players.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto for instance hasn't figured and the club already have two left-backs now, Vlad Chiriches hasn't figured either as Pochettino looks to strengthen at centre-back.

“We have a long, long squad, for me, too many players. 
“My idea is 25. No more than 25. We need to decide now, after our tour in America, and start to work here and decide our squad for the future.” 
“And, the Europa League – if we play the Europa League – we need to play to win.”

Tottenham defeated Schalke at White Hart Lane 2-1 in the final pre-season friendly with goals from strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado.

In a week the 2014/15 Premier League season starts with an away game at West Ham so Spurs TV caught up with Pochettino after the Schalke victory.

"Lot's of energy, this is our style, our philosophy, at the moment it's pre-season but we have one week ahead to the season. 
"Very very pleased, it's our first time in front of our fans at White Hart Lane and it was fantastic, unbelievable atmosphere, thank-you to the fans and thank-you to the players because it was a very great moment. 
"It was special [coming out in front of the WHL crowd for the first time] a very good moment, short moment but very good. 
"All games in the Premier League are special but I know that for our fans and for us West Ham is special. Now it is important for us to carry on and work hard next week."

His compatriot Ossie Ardiles was at Spurs after winning the World Cup in 1978 and together with Ricky Villa won the hearts of Spurs fans and Pochettino confirmed Tottenham won the heart of Ossie.

"I spoke with Ossie after I signed and I met with Ricardo Villa at the last game I played at White Hart Lane with Southampton. Ossie told me it was a good decision joining Spurs. He said: “Well done”. He’s happy. 
"Ossie is in love with Tottenham and he’s an idol here. All he told me about Tottenham was great, unbelievable. And now I can invite him to a barbecue at my house to spend time with him."

The new season only a week away. but what are Pochettino's targets, his aims, what are the club aims. The press like to speculate Levy insists on top four whereas in truth he aspires top four, there is a big difference.
He is rather misunderstood and a false picture is painted of him as a hatchet man when all he actually does is remove people who it can be seen are not going to take the club where it wants to be.

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That is standard management, if a manager or head coach as we call them now make the dressing room an unhappy place then they are not going to work. The one thing Daniel Levy wants is a long term manager, but t naturally has to be the right one, not just anyone.

Pochettino has made it a happy place again with all the senior players suggesting he is a nice guy to work for, that can go a long way at a club. Next step is produce the football with the results.The early signs are positive and he if he keeps it up then he has a long term role.

"I don’t have any specific targets. Yes, I’m confident I will be given time by the chairman. We need time to decide and make the right decisions. Tottenham is a big club, you always need to win every game. But at the moment we need to develop our philosophy, our style. And at the same moment, you need to provide the club and the players with a new philosophy or new style. 
‘It’s true our style is playing attacking football, pressing high and giving our fans enjoyment of the game. But then you need to get results. We need to play to win and, in our style and our philosophy, to keep the ball and play forward and not to change anything whether you play Real Madrid [or not].


Spurs of course had problems with the Summer Seven, one started producing the goods last season (Eriksen), two are showing signs of being solved (Capoue, Lamela), four are yet to be solved (Soldado, Chadli, Paulinho & Chiriches). Pochettino reveals that overseas player underestimate the requirements of the Premier League and think it is going to be easier than it actually is, this can contribute to failure.

If you don't give the league your utmost respect when you arrive and train hard to quickly adapt then you struggle, when you struggle things become harder, you lose confidence and are always playing catch up.Then you have to rove yourself where you didn't have to before, your talent was a given. We have players in that situation now.

"Adapting is always difficult. And when you take a job in the Premier League, all clubs have a difficult situation. All players who arrived from a different league — when they don’t speak the same language, it’s difficult to adapt. When I stayed in Spain, I said, “The English league, it’s OK. 
"It’s competitive”. But, when you arrive, you say, “Ooh, it’s hard — it’s very hard”. And, after, you realise that it’s the most competitive league. I stayed in France and in Spain. It’s not the same. Here, it’s hard. 
‘I had an unbelievable year and a half at Southampton. I enjoyed it a lot. I hope I enjoy it here too.’

Those are probably the most telling remarks he made at the training ground at a meet-and-greet with the press. Brad Friedel said recently that for goalkeeper the Premier League was different than any other league in the world and it takes adjustment.

Watching football on the telly and actually playing are worlds apart and many signings to the Premier League are found out by it.