Mauricio Pochettino says Mark Hughes has changed culture at Stoke
Friday 9 September 2016 23:57, UK
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says Mark Hughes has changed the footballing culture at Stoke ahead of their meeting on Saturday.
Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2008, the Potters have been branded with a reputation for no-nonsense football but Hughes has set about changing that perception by adding the likes of Joe Allen to a squad already boasting talent such as Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic.
Pochettino has praised the Welshman for the changes he has made to Stoke, having also delivered three ninth-place finishes in succession.
"I think Mark Hughes is a manager who changed a lot, the culture and philosophy that Stoke played before," the Spurs boss said.
"Always it is difficult to change the culture and philosophy because you need time, sometimes you need three, four, five years to change things in a club.
"It is true that today, Stoke City try and play attractive football and they have signed good players like [Wilfried] Bony, and last season Shaqiri, they have Arnautovic and [Giannelli] Imbula, they are a very good team."
Considered over-physical in the past, Stoke are changing that tag while Pochettino has been keen to add steel to his own squad at White Hart Lane.
Spurs, who won 4-0 at Stoke last season before ultimately falling short in their bid to win the title, have added Victor Wanyama and Moussa Sissoko to their ranks during the summer.
Wanyama has already made a difference while Sissoko could make his debut when Tottenham travel to Stoke, having signed from Newcastle in one of the most intriguing moves on transfer deadline day.
And Pochettino is pleased to have two players of quality, and stature, available as he looks to mount another serious title bid while also juggling a return to the Champions League.
"I think Wanyama and Sissoko are not only strong, big guys, they can play good football too," he said.
"They have very good skill. Sometimes in the market you have the possibility to sign some players and maybe it's not like when you buy a car and you build your own car and put in different options and sometimes you bring in the options that you have in the market. It's a good balance."
