LONDON • Tottenham may not be enjoying the best of "circumstances" owing to a raft of injuries and a packed fixture schedule, but Mauricio Pochettino has called for one last push from his stretched side.
Spurs' participation in next season's Champions League will be guaranteed for the fourth year running if they emerge with a victory at Bournemouth in their penultimate Premier League game today.
And, while Pochettino will have to travel with a squad that are thin on the ground - Harry Winks, Harry Kane, Erik Lamela and Serge Aurier are all injured - the Argentinian wants his players to "focus on our job and deliver".
Ahead of their trip to Dean Court, he said: "The problem now is it's a decisive period for us. It's a key moment. Playing the second leg of the semi-final (against Ajax next Wednesday) and playing (today) against Bournemouth.
"Now it's not to talk too much. Finishing in the top four is our priority, too."
However, he may also have to do without Jan Vertonghen after the Belgium international suffered a clash of heads with teammate Toby Alderweireld in their midweek 1-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg loss to the Dutch outfit.
Although Spurs were relieved after the diagnosis ruled out concussion, which would have placed his appearance in next week's second leg in Amsterdam in jeopardy, "the specialist has recommended that the player undertakes a brief period of rehabilitation before returning to training".
CRUNCH TIME
The problem now is it's a decisive period for us... Now it's not to talk too much. Finishing in the top four is our priority, too.
MAURICIO POCHETTINO, Tottenham manager, on their upcoming matches.
But Pochettino does not want to use their injury list as an excuse, with the 47-year-old aiming to end the term on a high with his first trophy as a manager.
In an interview with Gary Lineker for the BBC's Premier League show, he said while he was "in football because it's my passion, he also wanted to win".
Pochettino added: "We need trophies and we need to fight for big things, to have the opportunity to win the Champions League and Premier League.
"We finished the training ground and built a new stadium, but now we must be focused, all together, on winning titles."
Spurs have yet to lift any silverware since their 2008 League Cup triumph. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
BOURNEMOUTH V TOTTENHAM
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, 7.30pm
Feb 23, 2019 · Mauricio Pochettino somewhat lost the plot at the final whistle on Saturday, as Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 at Burnley in controversial fashion. Tottenham's manager confronted referee Mike Dean
How have Unai Emery and Maurizio Sarri fared in English
Valencia clinch Champions League qualification on final day Getafe in next season's Europa League, and Espanyol's 2-0 final day victory over Real Sociedad saw them climb two places to
Valencia clinch UCL spot at Getafe's expense - espn.com
Arsenal boss Unai Emery believes that his team should focus only on themselves and not on other teams. The Gunners went back to 4th place in the Premier League after defeating Southampton 2-0 thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Emery calls on Ozil to produce consistency in training
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 05, 2019, with the headline 'Sarri slammed over Kepa but says issue settled'. Print Edition | Subscribe Topics:
Sarri slammed over Kepa but says issue settled | Sports-Life-News
sports-life-news.com/soccer/sarri-slammed-over-kepa-but-says-issue-settled/
LONDON • Former Liverpool manager-turned-pundit Graeme Souness has blasted Maurizio Sarri's decision to recall Kepa Arrizabalaga but, as far as the Chelsea manager is concerned, the Spaniard has "paid the price" for his insubordination.
Axed Kepa's still my number one, says Sarri - Breitbart
Klopp calm for the run-in. Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scoring an audacious back-heeled goal past Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster in the leaders' 5-0 Premier League victory at Anfield on Wednesday.
Klopp calm for the run-in - theworldnews.net
ROME: Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic hailed his team for pulling off a "miracle" to secure their top flight survival with a 3-3 draw at Lazio on Monday enough to keep the northerners in Serie A
Bologna earn 'miracle' Serie A survival in six-goal Lazio
FAS' media-rights partner begins bankruptcy process. Dec 30, 2018, 5:00 am. Football: MP & Silva's Singapore office in provisional liquidation following London HQ's insolvency.
Campus Middle School snowflake fundraiser supports The Denver
Sergio Aguero's hat-trick led Manchester City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool. The victory put the pressure on Liverpool ahead off their trip to West Ham United on Monday.
Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win over Arsenal
Kane, who has scored 14 Premier League goals this season, was originally expected to be out until March after damaging ligaments in his left ankle in stoppage time against United. "Everyone knows that Harry is an animal and wants to be ready as soon as possible and he does everything to make the recovery.
Kane set to return for Champions League final - Read Liverpool
Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked
AC Milan miss out on UCL spot despite SPAL win - Football
football-explorer.com/2019/06/05/ac-milan-miss-out-on-ucl-spot-despite-spal-win/
4:46 PM ET MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their nearest rivals both booked their Champions League berths on Sunday.
After Burnley's Ashley Westwood squandered an early chance, Aubameyang pounced after 14 minutes to give Arsenal the lead, guiding the ball into the bottom corner of Joe Hart's net with the outside
Aubameyang brace gives Arsenal win over Burnley - The Nation
Almoez Ali scored with a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the Asian Cup to set Qatar on their way to a first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Almoez Ali on target as Qatar stun Japan
Sport24.co.za | Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League - Guardiola • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has again cast doubt on the Premier League champions' readiness to win the Champions League for the first time.
Football: Uefa panel to recommend Man City Champions League
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar