We want to write history in football - Pochettino

While Liverpool Football Club are synonymous with the European Cup, their opponents in Saturday's all-English Champions League Final tie Tottenham Hotspur have their own history in Europe.

Spurs were the first English side to lift a European trophy – winning the 1963 European Cup Winners cup – and they won the UEFA Cup in 1984.

They have the opportunity to join the heavyweight clubs of Europe by joining Juventus, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chelsea in claiming all three major UEFA trophies.

Speaking on the eve of the game Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said that he is looking to add to that history -  against a difficult opponent. Spurs have just one win in 14 against Liverpool.

“I think for us, tomorrow is about enjoying it and trying to win, because we want to write history in football. Tomorrow is about winning and we know very well what we need to do.?

“I think we trust ourselves; we are ready to compete and we respect our opponents because Liverpool are a great team. I think along with Manchester City, they’re the best team in England.

"They were competing head-to-head for the Premier League and of course [they've had] an unbelievable Champions League.? Jürgen Klopp is a fantastic manager, they have unbelievable players. It is a great club Liverpool with all their history.”

It has been a remarkable season for Spurs which has stretched the somewhat small Spurs squad to  near breaking point.

They had thought they would play their first home game in the new White Hart Lane in August but had to rent Wembley until April. On several occasions it seemed they were heading for elimination in the Champions League only to score a decisive late goal - usually from Lucas Moura!

“We had to continue playing at Wembley when it had a completely different schedule which made us impossible for us to have rest days. The World Cup really affected us; we were the team with the most players involved in the semi-final and final. So, I think that all of those things have given us strength and belief,?



“Look, it’s clear that that demonstrates the character of the team and how competitive it isx. But there is a very thin line between all of those good things going for us or against us - it’s down to the tiniest of details.?

“If the VAR didn’t say it was offside, we would have been eliminated and everything that you told me never would have happened. If we don’t score that goal in the last moment against Ajax, another manager would be here talking.?

“Look, sometimes when we analyse, we are very unfair. You can’t say that we are the most phenomenal team in the world. What happened doesn’t mean we are the best in the world, nor does it mean that we are the worst.” 

 

 



    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile