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Arsene Wenger like Maradona or Messi, Mauricio Pochettino says

Mauricio Pochettino is the 12th permanent Tottenham manager Arsene Wenger has faced
Image: Mauricio Pochettino is the 12th permanent Tottenham manager Arsene Wenger has faced

Mauricio Pochettino has called Arsene Wenger "a special person" ahead of Saturday's north London derby.

Wenger will lead Arsenal into his 48th game against Tottenham this weekend with both sides going for the Premier League title.

The Frenchman has famously seen off 11 permanent Spurs managers during his 19-and-a-half years in England, and Pochettino believes his opposite number's consistency brackets him with some of football's greatest names.

Tottenham v Arsenal preview
Tottenham v Arsenal preview

All the latest team news and stats ahead of the north London derby

"It is about the special capacity that Alex Ferguson had and now Arsene Wenger," he said. "I don't know if the capacities of the managers has changed or football has changed, it's difficult to say.

"Maybe they are special people. Maybe Ferguson and Wenger are special people who are capable of keeping their job for so long. Maybe we aren't too special.

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Mauricio Pochettino has defended his Tottenham side and is adamant they are mentally strong enough to win the league

"It's like Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi. It's difficult for some players to appear every season like them, no?

"Maybe when we think of special people like Ferguson or Wenger, maybe it's not the clubs who are special, maybe the managers are special to keep their jobs."

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Spurs were beaten at West Ham on Wednesday but are yet to lose successive games this season.

Pochettino has compared Wenger's consistency to that of Diego Maradona
Image: Pochettino has compared Wenger's consistency to that of Diego Maradona

"We hope for the same, the same response," Pochettino said. "The players are okay. They are sad and disappointed for the last result but they know the competition doesn't stop.

"We need to be ready to compete again. We expect another tough game against Arsenal and we need full energy to win the game."

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Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris insists it's still too early to start talking about winning the title

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