Spurs boss Pochettino stresses importance of the ‘collective’
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino (pic: Steven Paston/PA Images). - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images
The Argentinean has discussed the need for everyone to pull together in the past and mentioned it again at St James’ Park
Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has discussed the importance of the collective and how that will be key towards them challenging for honours again this season.
Over the last couple of campaigns, Spurs have come close to silverware with two genuine title challenges in the Premier League and two FA Cup semi-final appearances as well.
Unfortunately the Lilywhites have come up short in their quest to win a major honour so far, but this summer captain Hugo Lloris helped France win the World Cup.
Others in the Tottenham squad shone in Russia too with five members of the Spurs set-up in the England camp which made the last-four and three involved as Belgium finished third.
During the opening-day victory at Newcastle United, Pochettino included five players in his starting XI who reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.
But when quizzed if they were essentially guaranteed a place in the Spurs team, the boss replied: “It’s not because they were at the World Cup they are sure to play in the team.
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“That is the most important thing: if we want to win something, if we want to challenge for big things, we all need to put our minds and energy into the collective and understand that the collective is the most important thing.
“If individual goals and targets are the priority for them, it’s sure that they are not going to help the team and that is why they are going to be out of the squad.”
Given the early nature of the campaign and the fact the Premier League transfer window has shut, you would imagine all of the Spurs players are focused on the collective which Pochettino talks about.
A slight headache for the Argentinean is the form and fitness of star forward Harry Kane, who won the World Cup golden boot this summer.
Even though the striker netted six times for England in Russia, he didn’t look in tip top form towards the end of the tournament.
He also failed to appear to his best against Newcastle on Saturday, but his manager has no concerns.
Pochettino said: “For me, he is in his best form whether he scores or doesn’t score. I don’t have any doubt that he’s in his best form.
“He worked a lot for the team and I’m sure that he’s going to score. But he can’t score three goals in every game.”
Additional reporting by Press Association Sport.
