Football
PA Sport 9y

Mauricio Pochettino urges Spurs to maintain focus on Europe League

Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino has warned his players not to take their minds off their tough Europa League task -- despite the fact that they will be facing Chelsea in the Capital One Cup final on Sunday.

On Thursday, three days before the Wembley showpiece, the north London club face a tricky second leg away to Fiorentina with the aggregate score at 1-1 following the opening match.

"It will be a difficult game,'' Pochettino said. "I think this is our first final before Sunday, as Fiorentina are only one game from going into the next round.

"We know that we need to score, but we are confident."

Top scorer Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Erik Lamela sat out the White Hart Lane leg, and could be on the sidelines again ahead of the Chelsea challenge.

"We need to decide on the lineup,'' Pochettino added. "We have played two tough games against Fiorentina and West Ham [a 2-2 home draw], so we need to decide on the best team.''

Midfielder Nabil Bentaleb insisted the players would not be underestimating their European challenge, adding: "We'd be gutted if we go out of the Europa League.

"We're going to go to Fiorentina to win that game. We have to keep that hunger we have inside us to want to win everything."

^ Back to Top ^