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Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: Next season a 'big challenge'

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has told ESPN FC in an exclusive interview that next season will be a "big challenge" for the club as they have a different transfer philosophy to their rivals.

Tottenham finished second to Chelsea last season and moved out of White Hart Lane over the summer as the stadium is undergoing development, meaning they will play their home matches at Wembley.

And Pochettino understands that expectations are higher for the coming season.

"I think, after three seasons, the first was really tough for us because when you try to change the philosophy and habits and try to develop a complete opposite way of playing and behaving, it was very tough for us," he said.

"The last two seasons, it is true, we improved a lot. It is very clear, our philosophy is about trying to play exciting football with young players and trying to be different to the top sides. I think next season is a big, big challenge for us.

"For one, it's because we moved to Wembley, a different environment for us, a different pitch and stadium, all will be different for us. It is true that we must change because we were very comfortable playing at White Hart Lane.

"And then, I think because the big sides are investing a lot of money in trying to improve their squads, but for us we are so calm and so quiet because we have belief in our youth from our academy. We may lack a few players, but we are so calm because I think we have a very good team and the most important thing for us always is the team."

Tottenham have yet to sign a player in the summer transfer window and sold right-back Kyle Walker to Manchester City for £50 million. However, Pochettino insists that is not because the club don't have the money but because they have a different philosophy to their big-spending Premier League rivals.

"Always the philosophy is coming from the board and in the case of Daniel Levy, I think we have a very good relationship, we have a clear idea of what we need to do in the future," he said.

"I think our facilities are amazing and the training ground and the new stadium will be one of the best in Europe. It's an exciting moment for Tottenham. But it is true we have a different philosophy, it's not because we cannot invest, but Tottenham have built a different philosophy than the other big clubs.

"I think in football, money can help you build a better squad or bring in talented players but it's not only about money, you need to be creative, you need to be clever. It will be tough next season for us, but we believe in the way that we play and we work."

One player who is a shining example of how well Spurs' youth policy can work is Harry Kane, who finished as last season's top scorer in the league and has become one of the best strikers in the world at the age of 23.

Asked why it took Pochettino's arrival for Kane to make the breakthrough into the first-team, the Argentine replied: "I think every single player is different. Different maturation, at a different period [in their careers]. The most important thing is they need to believe and feel like they are close to the first-team and the coaching staff is caring for them and if they are good and they show good quality, they will have the possibility to play.

"I think that after three seasons at Tottenham, the young players feel if they do everything and they improve, they have the chance to show their quality, the first-team coaching staff is a staff that will give them a chance to play.

"In the past it may have been different because they may have been working in a different philosophy, but now if you are young, 16, 17, 18, 19, if you are good enough, you're sure you will have the chance to play."

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