Mauricio Pochettino urges Spurs to push for Premier League summit after unbeaten start
Argentine is keen for his Tottenham players to rise to the occasion and move to the top of the table with win over Bournemouth
Mauricio Pochettino is keen for his Tottenham Hotspur players to rise to the occasion and move to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday.
That may only be for a few hours but Spurs know that victory at Bournemouth in a lunchtime kick-off will be enough to lift them above current leaders Manchester City, who play on Sunday, and Arsenal, who are in action later on Saturday.
Pochettino was eager, therefore, for his side – who are currently the only Premier League team yet to taste domestic defeat this term – to go one better.
“It’s a big motivation for us to finish the game and take the three points to be top of the table. Better motivation is impossible,” he said.
Pochettino is without defender Toby Alderweireld, who suffered a leg injury in last week’s 1-1 draw at West Brom, and striker Harry Kane, who stepping up his recovery from an ankle injury but is not yet near a playing return.
Leftback Danny Rose is also a doubt with a foot problem.
Spurs won 5-1 at Bournemouth last season but the Cherries will kick off on the back of a 6-1 thrashing of Hull City and Pochettino said he was a big fan of the south coast side’s manager Eddie Howe.
Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels began his career at north London club Tottenham and revealed he will have plenty of friends and family down to watch him – and cheer on the opposition.
“I was there for a good number of years when I was young and I still have a lot of friends there who are on the staff,” he said.
“Personally, it’s about doing a job and not only for me but for the team. We want to win and break their duck.
“We want to play a high tempo and a fast-attacking game, but I know Spurs will want to do that as well.
“Hopefully we don’t cancel each other out. It could be a bit end-to-end.”