Tottenham Hotspur must continue to fight for Premier League top-four finish insists Mauricio Pochettino
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane on the bench behind manager Mauricio Pochettino during the Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (pic: Steven Paston/PA Images). - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
The Lilywhites travel to struggling Stoke on Saturday with confidence high, but their manager has warned against complacency
Tottenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen (centre) celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (pic: Steven Paston/PA Images). - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Mauricio Pochettino was warned Spurs there is a long way to go in the battle for a top-four finish despite Sunday’s historic victory at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham Hotspur triumphed 3-1 at rivals Chelsea – the first time they had won at the Blues since February 1990 – to move eight points clear in the race for Champions League qualification.
Next up for the Lilywhites is a clash at struggling Stoke City and Pochettino has told his players they can’t rest on their laurels.
He said: “There’s still a long way to the end. I think we need to be focused and now we will try to prepare for the next game.
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“It will be so tough against Stoke. I think now the focus will be to try to work hard and we have still not achieved anything, so I am sure it will be difficult to be in the top four.
“We must fight. Our mentality it to be ready in every single game and then the FA Cup semi-final (April 21) is coming up too.”
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It looks set to be an exciting month for Spurs with the Potters up first on Saturday to be followed by Manchester City (at home), Brighton & Hove Albion (away) and the last-four clash at Wembley with United.
Pochettino is proud of the way things have paned out for the club after a difficult start at their temporary home in Brent.
Wembley has been turned into a fortress now though, with Juventus the only side to defeat Spurs at home since October 25.
Tottenham have been strong on the road as well – winning their last four away matches at Chelsea, Swansea City, AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace – and that will need to continue at Stoke.
“To finish in the top four for the third time in a row would be fantastic for the club,” Pochettino said. “And of course, we have the possibility to beat Man United and go to the final of the FA Cup, so that would be fantastic, but I think we are so happy with the season we have had so far.
“It is very good and we are playing away from home for plenty of matches because we started the season at Wembley.
“It was so difficult to create and be comfortable there. I think it was a massive effort for the team, for our fans and everyone, so we’ll see what happens going forward, but our ambition is to try and win every game.”
Spurs have achieved that on a domestic front over the last six weeks, but they must keep it up to achieve even more success.
