Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino must look to future while Manchester City win trophies in the here and now

Dan Kilpatrick @Dan_KP29 October 2018

Mauricio Pochettino neatly explained the difference between Tottenham and Manchester City last week when the Spurs boss admitted: “This club is not completely focused on winning titles.”

City have made the pursuit of silverware their sole aim, sparing no effort or expense to ensure Pep Guardiola has every possible resource to win the biggest trophies. At Tottenham, however, there is a greater priority: finishing their behind-schedule new stadium, which will not open until next year.

On Friday, Spurs issued a foreboding financial update, revealing the loan facility for the stadium project has increased from £400million to £637m. The total cost could yet reach £1billion — roughly what City have spent on transfers in the past decade. Spurs, if you needed reminding, have not spent a penny on players since January.

Ahead of tonight’s meeting between the two clubs, the gap has rarely felt wider, even though only City have won more points than Spurs since Pochettino’s appointment. “City are on another level,” acknowledged the Argentine on Friday, before admitting that he had never been in a darker mood in four-and-a-half years at Spurs.

Little wonder, when Pochettino increasingly resembles a man treading water, watching his competitors swim by. While Guardiola is managing for the here and now, Pochettino must ensure the club remain competitive until the stadium project begins to pay off. There is little hope of winning a big trophy soon when faced with the might of City and the ongoing stadium costs.

“Someone will benefit from our patience, our job and our playing many games away from home,” said Pochettino (below) tellingly last week.

It is even more incredible, then, that Spurs could actually leapfrog the champions with a win tonight. Given the circumstances, Pochettino’s work this season has been remarkable, particularly as Spurs are yet to play anything like their best football.

The big question is whether they can win ugly against beautiful City, following scrappy victories over Huddersfield, Cardiff and West Ham.

A dreadful Wembley pitch, churned-up by rain and three consecutive weekends of NFL fixtures, should hinder City’s passing game, while Christian Eriksen’s recovery will also help the hosts after the Dane starred in last Wednesday’s draw at PSV Eindhoven following a month out, although Kevin de Bruyne could make a first League start since August for City. Spurs are not expected to risk Dele Alli, who is in talks over a new long-term contract, from the off.

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