Tottenham must improve on last season, says Mauricio Pochettino
Thursday 11 August 2016 15:59, UK
Mauricio Pochettino wants his Tottenham side to be "clever" and show they have learnt from last season's mistakes.
Spurs failed to win any of their last four Premier League fixtures in the 2015/16 season, ultimately seeing them finish third in the table behind rivals Arsenal and champions Leicester City.
With Alex Pritchard the only player to have left White Hart Lane this summer following his move to Norwich, Pochettino has stuck with the same squad as last season and thinks the continuity can have a positive impact ahead of their opening 2016/17 fixture against Everton on Saturday.
"It is true that at the end of the season we felt very disappointed in the way that we finished the Premier League but if we are clever we need to improve from our mistakes and we need to show that we are clever," Pochettino said.
"It is a good opportunity. We keep the same team, the same players, I don't think there are a lot of changes around the changing room and in the squad and I think that can help us."
Tottenham will have the added pressure of Champions League football this season and Pochettino has brought in striker Vincent Janssen from AZ Alkmaar and Vincent Wanyama from Southampton to help provide depth in his squad.
The Argentine boss admitted the competition will have a bigger effect on his players than the Europa League.
"Like a coach or manager I think you can improve and you need to improve from your mistakes and we have a big challenge ahead because now we have to repeat our performance, try to improve and play Champions League, which for a lot of players is a new competition," he added.
"It is true we will expend more energy than playing in the Europa League and we need to manage that a different way than last season but it is exciting for us and you can feel all the players in the changing room they are excited to start to compete."
Spurs will be able to call on defender Jan Vertonghen for the weekend trip to Goodison Park, though, after Pochettino confirmed the Belgium international has recovered from the injury he sustained at Euro 2016.
"Good news, Jan Vertonghen is ready," Pochettino said. "Last week was perfect, he trained with the group."
