Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino certainly seems to be telling it like it is much more lately. Perhaps he really is keeping one eye on the potential to move to Manchester United, a club that reportedly has him in their cross-hairs? Pochettino has gotten further and further away from press conference platitudes in the past week, and whether or not you agree with what he has to say, you have to respect his integrity and brutal honesty.
His comments last week about the club’s lack of recent history are spot on. Poch’s team is not linked in transfer rumors to anybody this January window, which comes to an end tomorrow. It’s looks almost certain that THFC will complete their third straight transfer window without buying even a single player.
Yes, they do have a big expensive new stadium to pay for, one that’s seen its opening delayed several times, but you know what they say, if you’re standing still you’re in actuality falling behind.
Ahead of their midweek league clash at home against Watford, Pochettino said his club just can’t afford to spend like fellow big six rivals Liverpool and Manchester City. (Or Real Madrid or Barcelona)
“We are creating players. But in this case, Liverpool need a defender, they get [Virgil] van Dijk. They need a goalkeeper, who’s the best? Alisson. It’s the same as Manchester City,” the Argentine said.
“In the end, it’s valid as Real Madrid and Barcelona do the same because they’re on a different level.”
He then made a very clever and apt metaphor.
“At the moment, Tottenham haven’t reached that level, so when we can’t buy a washing machine, we get a dryer that can do the same job. Instead of a sofa, we get a chair where you can also sit. That’s the difference between Tottenham and the teams that are built to win,” the Tottenham boss added.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Watford FC FYIs
Kickoff: January 30, 8pm, Wembley Stadium
Google Result Probability: Tottenham Hotspur win 58%, Draw 25%, Watford win 17%
Odds via Odds Checker: Tottenham Hotspur win 7/10, Draw 3/1, Watford win 19/4
Injury report for both sides: go to this link
Tottenham Hotspur starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.