Mauricio Pochettino remains a "top manager" despite Tottenham Hotspur's slow start to the season.
That's the view of Brighton and Hove Albion manager Graham Potter who will be looking to inflict a second defeat of the week on the Lilywhites at the Amex Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Talk over Pochettino's tenure in north London has come under scrutiny in the early weeks of the new campaign.
And it heightened following Tuesday night's 7-2 thumping at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
There's also suggestions that this will be Pochettino's final season in charge of Spurs.
But the Argentine's opposite number at the weekend in the Brighton boss, Potter, insists his counterpart should be praised and not criticised for the work he's done in north London.
"It was a disappointing result for them against a top team that were very clinical on the night," Potter said in his pre-match press conference . "But If they were as clinical as Bayern they could have been 3-0 up in the game.
"Mauricio Pochettino is a top manager. What he's done at that club I have the utmost respect for.
"He's competed at the top of the league, not with the same resources but still in the top four above big teams. [They were] Champions League finalists - he's done a wonderful job."
Potter also had praise for Harry Kane.
"[Kane is] the perfect role model on and off the pitch. His development has been incredible and he's up there with the best strikers in European football and captain of his country," Potter added.
"That resilience as well to keep going and believe in himself. People always focus on the success with these top players, but there's always setbacks on the way and moments they have to get through - so credit to him."
Kane has an excellent record against the Seagulls away from home having netted in both games at the Amex Stadium since Brighton were promoted to the Premier League.
And Potter is to turn to summer signing Adam Webster in a bid to prevent the Spurs striker from making it three from three.
"He came into the group a bit late but he's settled really well," Potter said.
"He's had to be patient but he got his opportunity away at Manchester City - not the best environment to go into making your debut - but he did it really well.
"We gave him a lot of responsibility playing it out of the back which he dealt with fantastically. He's getting better all the time and we're excited about him."
