Mauricio Pochettino: ‘Trophies are only good for ego – a top-four spot is more important for Spurs’

Mauricio Pochettino launched a robust defence of his Spurs team and the club’s strategy arguing that winning cups is good for the ego but not necessarily the measure of a top side.

Pochettino was speaking after the 2-0 FA Cup defeat against Crystal Palace, a result that came just 72 hours after Tottenham’s exit to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

“We are going to create a debate that to win a trophy is going to help the club. I don’t agree with that. It is good for the ego. In reality the most important thing is to build a team that is always going to be in the top four,” he said. “People wish we could win some trophies. But being realistic, we are doing so well.”

Fighting on two fronts

Pochettino makes a fair point if we accept the diminished status of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup compared to success in the Premier League and the Champions League. The two defeats in three days leaves Spurs notionally in the same position as Liverpool, in effect fighting on two not four fronts, but the two that really matter.

Read more: Pochettino stays positive as another trophy bites the dust for Tottenham, ending a dismal week with FA Cup defeat

Pochettino is ultimately seeking to set results in context and to point out that Spurs are a club that is striving to mix with the elite. The important thing for him and Tottenham, he said, is to be contending consistently for the league and in Europe.

“We are trying to build a club that will arrive at the last level. The important thing for Tottenham is always being top four and in the Champions League. Doing that is going to help the club to get to the last level.

“We are a club that has done fantastic in the last four or five years. We are doing everything we can to be at the level of Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.”

No regrets

Pochettino said he had no regrets about his policy of making seven changes. “We played our best team we can play. It was a moment for a different player. We came from a crazy fixture [Chelsea] and were forced to take some decisions to rest some players.

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“The season has been tough. I told you it was going to be a massive challenge for us, a tough season for us. We are disappointed to be out of two competitions. We can’t feel differently. But now we have to be positive.

“We have two competitions. We are in a good position in the Premier League and in the Champions League. We have to be strong and ready for Wednesday [when they play Watford].

To that end Pochettino reported the availability of one of his missing superstars, Son Heung-min, back from the Asian Cup and ready to go.