Cardiff v Spurs - Mauricio's preview

Mauricio Pochettino is preparing for a New Year’s Day ‘battle’ at Cardiff.

We step into 2019 with a tough trip to Wales to face Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds in the Premier League at the Cardiff City Stadium (5.30pm).

Without a win in their opening eight matches back in the top flight, Cardiff have now won five of their last 12 after their first away win of the campaign at Leicester on Saturday to move out of the relegation zone. Indeed, they’ve won four of their last six at home.

We had to fight all the way for a 1-0 win at Wembley back in October and Mauricio expects the same again as we try to bounce back from our 3-1 home loss to Wolves on Saturday.

“It’s going to be tough, Cardiff are a tough team to play against,” said Mauricio. “We need to move on (after Wolves) and try to be ready to compete because we’re going to need big energy to play. We need to be prepared for a big battle and we’re looking forward to it.”

Asked what he and the coaching staff would do with the players between Saturday and Tuesday, Mauricio added: “Not too much, we’re not going to change because of a defeat. Of course, if you win it’s easier but we lost and now we keep going the plan that we designed and stick with it. That’s football - we need to accept the defeat and move on.”