Mauricio Pochettino reckons Tottenham Hotspur would be delighted to be in their present Premier League position had it been offered to them at the start of the season.
A 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday night followed last Saturday’s loss at Burnley and lessened Spurs’ already slim Premier League title hopes. Leaders Liverpool and second-placed Manchester City are nine and eight points clear, respectively.
Pochettino’s men are four points ahead of fourth-placed Arsenal, their opponents at Wembley on Saturday, with Manchester United a point further back and Chelsea seven points adrift of Spurs with a game in hand.
Pochettino said: “Everyone from the beginning of the season should be satisfied with that position before playing on Saturday, with the possibility of playing against Arsenal at Wembley with the gap at four points. The pressure is on them, not only us.”
Pochettino acknowledges the occasion of a derby, but says every game is significant.
“Today Chelsea and Arsenal are the same level in terms of rivalry,” he added.
“We are playing Fulham, Watford, West Ham, Arsenal, Chelsea... they’re all London derbies.
“We are going to try and win the game because they’re so important for the fans. But Burnley was important for the fans, too.
“The rivalry is so important because of the history, but every game, for us, is so important.”
Tottenham did not get a shot on target throughout the match in a disappointing performance at Stamford Bridge and were undone by poor moments in defence.
Pedro seized upon uncertainty and shot between Hugo Lloris’ legs before the Spurs goalkeeper was beaten by Kieran Trippier’s own goal in a costly misunderstanding.
Lloris said: “Obviously the goals we conceded we could have avoided, then we need to do more defensively and offensively. Only together we can find the solution.”
PA
