Tottenham looking to “narrow gap” between Champions League rivals
By Ryan Wrenn
Mauricio Pochettino wants to find a way to implement Tottenham’s domestic improvement in recent seasons in the Champions League.
When he took over the club, Pochettino’s dream was to see Tottenham bridge the chasm between themselves and the Premier League’s elite. With two title runs in the last two seasons, it seems safe to say he’s on the right course.
Simultaneously doing the same in the Champions League always felt unrealistic however. Qualifying for the competition remains a feat in and of itself without worrying about progressing deep into a competition that represents club football’s highest heights. Tottenham weren’t so big — or well-monied — to hope for success on two fronts.
That might be changing though, however slowly. In Tuesday’s press conference ahead of the Champions League group stage opener against Borussia Dortmund, Pochettino made clear that this season will represent the start of a sea-change within Spurs in regard to the competition. As quoted by the Guardian:
"“Three years ago, I said we needed to reduce the gap with the big sides in the Premier League and, after, we are fighting to win the league. Why can’t we start to create the same in the Champions League and reduce the gap with these clubs? They are at a completely different level and philosophy but this season will be a very good opportunity to challenge them and see our reality.”"
Beginning with Wednesday’s group stage opener against Borussia Dortmund, Pochettino evidently intends to prove Tottenham’s true mettle in the Champions League. He even went so far as to call that match something like a final — further proof that Pochettino is ready to take the competition seriously.
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Words are just words, of course. It could very well be that Pochettino continues to treat European competition with the same indifference he has for the past few seasons.
Even after Spurs pulled off the improbable and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in six attempts two seasons ago, it didn’t appear as if Pochettino was ready to treat the competition any differently that he had treated the Europa League.
That meant rotating in bench players for crucial fixtures, such as last autumn’s away trip to Monaco, and generally not looking particularly adventurous against more beatable opponents like Bayer Leverkusen. When Spurs missed out on the Champions League knockout rounds, it only afforded Pochettino an opportunity to recommit fully to the Premier League campaign.
The Argentinian’s decision to rest Mousa Dembélé and leave Heung-min Son as an unused substitute against Everton on Saturday is the first sign of something different brewing at Tottenham.
Everton looked limp on the day, but prior to kickoff it seemed plausible that they would give a game to Spurs. For Pochettino to sacrifice arguably his best player of the season so far and one of his most effective second half substitutes in favor of presumably using them against Dortmund speaks much louder than any bellicose words in a pre-match press conference.
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Real proof will come if Spurs encounter a set-back against Dortmund as they did in last season’s group stage opener against Monaco. Should they lose at Wembley, Pochettino will either need to decide to press on in a difficult group that will also feature two matches against Real Madrid, or once again decide that Spurs’ priorities lie in the Premier League.