Daily Mirror - 17.08.2019

(^66) DAILY MIRROR SATURDAY 17.08.2019
DM1ST
MANCHESTER CITY v TOTTENHAM
MAURICIO POCHETTINO is
ready to face Pep Guardiola in
the boxing ring in the battle of
the top-flight heavyweights.
Pochettino says going toe-to-toe
with the Manchester City boss is
the only way to decide who is the
best prize fighter ahead of today’s
massive collision at the Etihad.
Tottenham chief Pochettino is
the last manager to beat City –
knocking them out of the
Champions League in April.
He was also the first manager to
beat Guardiola’s City after the ex-
Barcelona boss took over in 2016.
And now he has the chance to
end the reigning champions’ long
winning streak. Pochettino said:
“For me, the best thing to see who
PEP v POCH:
THE RECORD
is the best is to go there, brave
managers, a bit like Anthony
Joshua and create a ring and fight.
“I don’t know who would win. He
is strong. You don’t know. That is a
joke.
“I am so brave on the touchline
because I know that is never
going to happen, so I shout and
everything.
“That is the point – I love to
compare my team with another
team. Football is a collective sport.
It’s not a personal competition.
“Maybe another way is to put the
ball in the middle with two goals
and play one-on-one.
“Maybe we need a competition
between the 20 managers.”
Even though the Argentinian
shies away from personal duels,
there must be a reason why he has
beaten his Spanish rival since they
POCHETTINO v PEP IS
LIKE JOSHUA v RUIZ
Rivalry between Spurs and City boss is a real heavyweight battle
UNCERTAIN Spurs defender
Alderweireld may be on way
hands if something happens
or doesn’t happen.
“Still we need to wait until
September 2 and hope
there aren’t too many
changes or not too many
problems for us.”
Eriksen has only a year
left on his contract and with
Real Madrid interested,
Spurs do not want to lose
him as a free agent next
summer.
Pochettino did not start
the Denmark international
against Aston Villa last
Saturday and is likely to do
the same at Manchester
City today.
The Spaniard added: “We
need to assess the
circumstances. We will see
what happens between now
and September 2.
“Like we can change our
minds, a player can change
his, so until September 2 it’s
difficult to tell you if this will
be the bravest group of
players.
“The team is still not
settled how I expected it to
be. We’re still working in
trying to make sure it’s
finished come September 2.
“That will be the moment
to have a big conversation
with the whole squad and
settle the principle.”
There are also doubts
over the futures of Toby
Alderweireld and Jan
Vertonghen.
Eriksen’s
early exit
is still on
FROM BACK PAGE
BY JOHN CROSS
Chief Football Writer
@johncrossmirror
IN SPAIN
Guardiola 5 wins
Pochettino 1 win
Draws 3
IN ENGLAND
Guardiola 5 wins
Pochettino 2 wins
Draws 1
TOTAL
Guardiola 10 wins
Pochettino 3 wins
Draws 4
have been together in the Premier
League and before that in La Liga.
Pochettino had just taken over
at bottom club Espanyol when
they won at mighty Barcelona in
2009 and went on to complete an
amazing escape from relegation.
It is clearly down to Pochettino’s
philosophy as to why Spurs have
caused Guardiola’s City problems.
The tale of the tape was City’s
three wins to one last season.
Crucially, Spurs did knock them
out of the Champions League in
the quarter-finals on away goals
when they went down 4-3 at the
Etihad after a 1-0 home triumph.
Pochettino added: “We are trying
to push them because it’s the way
that we believe.
“Be brave, press high, to play
between the lines, to have the
ability to play in transition
depending on the circumstances
of the game. That is why I think
Tottenham are so rich.
“Every season we build the
team and we build ideas. But
always we keep the prin-
ciples the same. That
is so important.
We b u i l d
players
to try to
get us to play
in the way we
built five years
ago.
“That is the
difference when you
compare us with
another team. That is why in
a long-term period you are
going to win more than you
lose.”
15-2
Tottenham
to win