Manchester City are the ‘best team in England’, but Tottenham will go there to win, insists Mauricio Pochettino

Poch talk | Spurs boss targets unlikely win at the Etihad: Neil Hall/EPA
Poch talk | Spurs boss targets unlikely win at the Etihad: Neil Hall/EPA

Mauricio Pochettino says he is excited to challenge the best team in England when he takes Tottenham to Manchester City on Saturday, and that he will head north in a positive mind frame.

Spurs made it three home wins in a week with a 2-0 victory over Brighton on Wednesday night, following positive results against Stoke City and Apoel Nicosia in the Champions League.

Having lifted the mood at Wembley, following a tough run in the Premier League, Spurs are back in the top four, but must now face Pep Guardiola’s side - fresh from breaking the league record for consecutive wins.

While it will be some ask to defeat runaway leaders on their home patch, the Argentine is not in awe of the task at hand.

“Look. I am so positive, I am a positive person,” Pochettino told reporters.

“I am so happy because we won and the three points are so important for us. What is going to happen Saturday? Who knows?

“I am positive, we go to Manchester trying to win, thinking we can win and then football is football and anything can happen.”

​Guardiola’s side are 18 points clear of Pochettino’s, however, in facing the likes of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund so far this season, and coming out unscathed and with famous victories, Spurs have relished the underdog tag in recent weeks.

In that sense, Pochettino says his squad will go to Etihad Stadium and enjoy going toe-to-toe with what he calls the best side in England.

“Yes, we are people that enjoy it, because it's a fantastic challenge to play against Manchester City,” the Argentine continued.

“We are going to play with, this season, the best team in England one of the best teams in Europe.

“I am so excited to play, because I love to play against teams and managers like Guardiola, the best.

“I am the opposite side. I am so positive, so motivated and so happy that we are going to play a team that is in its best.”


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