Christian Eriksen can be best in league, says Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that Christian Eriksen has now joined the same elite company as Alexis Sánchez and Cesc Fabregas among the Premier League’s outstanding individuals of the season.



A hamstring injury will rule Sánchez out of Saturday’s north London derby, leaving the stage clear for Eriksen to demonstrate his growing credentials as a potential ‘player of the year’.

Eriksen and Harry Kane have 19 Premier League goals between them so far this season and Pochettino is adamant that his team need feel no inferiority complex ahead of arguably their biggest home game of the season. Asked whether Eriksen had matched Sánchez and Fabregas this season, the Tottenham Hotspur coach said: “Yes, so far. Christian has the possibility to get to the same level. His contribution so far is as great for the team.”
Tottenham have never finished above their neighbours since Arsène Wenger became Arsenal manager in 1996 and, while there are clear parallels in what Pochettino would like to achieve, he said that it would be impossible to consider emulating the Frenchman’s tenure.

“Our vision is long term and we work for that,” he said. “When the new stadium comes, we need more income. It’s also very good for our fans. But we are focused on the present too. We have a plan for the present and for the long term. We need to understand that we need to get the good results now to develop in a very good way our future.”

Asked about the prospect of being at Spurs in 2032, Pochettino said: “It’s difficult for me to imagine the next season. 18 years! This is why I admire Arsène so much because it’s not easy for a manager to stay in the same place. I think Wenger was perfect because always he gives the balance; young, medium and experienced players.”

One of Tottenham’s senior players now is Emmanuel Adebayor, the former Arsenal striker, whom chairman Daniel Levy prevented from joining West Ham United on transfer deadline day.

Adebayor was ready to leave but has since apologised to those Tottenham fans who have been booing him. Pochettino says that it is now time for the supporters to give Adebayor a fresh start and that only Aaron Lennon asked personally to leave the club on deadline day.

“Yes, it’s important that the fans forget the past,” said Pochettino, when asked if he wanted the booing of Adebayor to stop. “We are in a key moment. We need to put out the bad things, the bad energy, we need to try to help each other and try to get the success.
“He is a long way towards recovering his confidence and his levels and that is our job. He is in a good mood.”

Younès Kaboul and Étienne Capoue could also have left in the transfer window but Pochettino is confident that even the peripheral players will maintain their commitment. “When you sign a contract as a player, you need to understand that you don’t sign to play, you sign to train,” Pochettino said. “Then the club signs a manager or head coach to pick the players. This is football.”

Pochettino also expressed his confidence that Hugo Lloris would commit his long-term future to Tottenham amid interest from Paris St Germain and Real Madrid. Lloris is out of contract in 2019. “He is one of the best keepers in the world – his contribution has been amazing,” Pochettino said. “He is very happy with us. People keep saying he wants to play in the Champions League – maybe he can do that with Tottenham.”


By Jeremy Wilson, Telegraph