Wed 04 January 2017, 08:45
Tottenham Hotspur“I believe in the way that we play, I believe in our players and I believe in our fans.” That is the message from Mauricio Pochettino as we prepare for a huge game against league leaders Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night (January 4, kick-off 8pm).
The Blues come to North London 10 points ahead of us at the top of the standings and riding the crest of a wave, having enjoyed a record-equalling 13-game winning streak in the Premier League.
Victory for us would be massive, serving to reduce the gap to Antonio Conte’s side and elevating us back into the top four, not to mention making a further statement after back-to-back 4-1 away wins since Christmas.
Mauricio for one is relishing the challenge.
“It will be a very tough game. Chelsea are in good shape but we are the same, we are very confident,” said the manager.
“We’re playing at White Hart Lane with our fans, I think it will be an exciting game and we have a very good opportunity to reduce the gap to them.
“It’s true that first of all we need to show that we deserve to win the game and for that we need to perform at a high, high level because we will play against a team that is also playing at a high level.
“But we are confident that we can arrive in a good condition.”
How much pressure and emphasis is on this game in terms of the title race?
Mauricio: “We only need to try to spend energy in trying to prepare for the game in the best way, try to find the way to win and not think what will happen if some positive or negative thing comes. We are very optimistic, I am very optimistic, I never think about bad things, always I hope we are all positive because I believe in the way that we play, I believe in our players and I believe in our fans. I think we need to create a fantastic atmosphere between us all and try to win the game – that is our challenge for Wednesday.”
How do we stop a team that has won 13 games in a row?
Mauricio: “We cannot be focused on that – focus on us, try to improve our game and try to be better than them. All that happens afterwards is not our problem, Chelsea is not our problem – we need to be focused on Tottenham, try to show that we are better than them and deserve the victory in the end. I think we are arriving at the game in a very good moment for us.”
How big a role can our supporters play?
Mauricio: “Like always our fans are great, a fantastic help. The energy that they translate from the stands is unbelievable and I think all together we can beat Chelsea. We need only to try to spend our energy on trying to prepare for the game in the best condition.”
We’ve won 4-1 twice in four days heading into the game. How much of a boost is that?
Mauricio: “I think it’s very good preparation, it’s very good in the way that we arrive to attack this important game. We are happy, very pleased with this period that is always busy and difficult and how we’ve started the year 2017 is important with the victory (against Watford).”
DON’T MISS WEDNESDAY’S OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME!
Pick up your copy of our official matchday programme at the Chelsea game on Wednesday night.
It’s £3.50 for 100 pages, including...
- Feature interview with Christian Eriksen
- Mauricio Pochettino's exclusive column
- Harry Kane is the 'Centre of Attention'
- Another instalment of ‘The White Hart Lane Years’
- Chelsea legend Graeme Le Saux recalls playing against us
- A look at the Blues’ squad and memories of a 1920 battle between the sides
- A pictorial review of 2016 from a Spurs perspective
Buy yours from a number of points around the stadium or from the Spurs Megastore on Wednesday.
Sample it now for free with our 12-page online preview edition or buy the full 100-page digital issue via tottenhamhotspur.com/programme
