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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Mauricio Pochettino brushes off Tottenham FA Cup exit as Spurs coach hopes for Heung-min Son return

Mauricio Pochettino has been handed one bit of good news in a week which saw Tottenham knocked out of both the domestic cups - he finally has someone to lead the line.

After Fernando Llorente filled the void left by an injured Harry Kane in losses against Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup and FA Cup respectively, Heung-min Son returned to training on Saturday morning having returned from international duty at the Asian Cup.

Despite scoring at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Llorente has lacked the presence to lead the line in a side ravaged by attacking injuries to the likes of Kane, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko.

But Pochettino is hoping he can call on Son - who has often shone when filling in for Kane through the middle - when Watford visit Wembley on Wednesday night, giving no rest to the South Korean after a gruelling international schedule.

"Today we were with him on the training ground in the morning," Pochettino said following Saturday’s game.

(REUTERS)

"He's so tired, played three games. Very tough games. Not too much energy today, but we hope he'll be available on Wednesday."

The Argentine has never been one to hide the fact that he deems both domestic trophies vastly inferior to either the Premier League and Champions League, once again stating that neither will change the club’s stature or outlook, but simply massage the egos of the squad.

"We are going to create a debate that to win a trophy is going to help the club," Pochettino said.

"I don't agree with that. That only builds your ego. In reality, the most important thing is being consistently in the top four and playing Champions League.

"That is going to help the club to achieve the last step. Today the club is doing fantastically. It's so successful.

"In the last four or five years, we've been fighting in different ways to achieve what the club needs, to be in the level of Chelsea, United, City or Arsenal or Liverpool."

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