Pochettino pleased as Spurs close in on Champs League spot

May 05, 2018 09:58 am

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is pleased that the English Premiership’s top four teams are guaranteed a Champions League group stage spot next season, following Arsenal’s Europa League exit on Thursday.

If Arsenal had won the Europa League this season, the fourth-placed league team, currently Tottenham, would have been forced to play qualifiers early next campaign to seal a Champions League spot.

Arsene Wenger’s team slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-finals, meaning the league’s top four sides are guaranteed a Champions League group berth.

“Now, it is guaranteed that top four means you are going to play in the Champions League,” Pochettino said.

“Of course I am not happy about (the result), I’m not a person who enjoys when another team loses but, for our interests, always our focus is to finish third and if it’s not possible then fourth.”

Tottenham are a point behind third-placed Liverpool, who have played a game more, and six adrift of second-placed Manchester United, who lost 1- 0 to Brighton on Saturday morning (Singapore time), but Pochettino is hopeful that his team can grab second place if Jose Mourinho’s team slip up.

“We need to win the three games but we have to wait for Manchester United to lose," he said.

“All can happen in football, which is why it is such an amazing sport.”

Chelsea are challenging Tottenham for a fourth-placed league finish, but Pochettino is confident that his team can hold on as their fifth-placed rivals sit five points behind, having played a game more.

“No, I wasn’t worried and I am not now. I am worried about being focused on performing better than Monday, to perform better and be sure that we are going to win the games ahead. That is my only worry,” he added.

The Argentine boss said that midfielder Mousa Dembele was a doubt for Saturday’s league trip to West Bromwich Albion due to an ankle injury.

A win for Tottenham or a draw at the Hawthorns will ensure West Brom’s relegation to the Championship. - REUTERS