Mauricio Pochettino believes players are choosing Tottenham Hotspur over their rivals for love not money.
The Spurs manager is increasingly optimistic that he has built a squad capable of contending for the title again and, more to the point, thinks he can bridge the financial gap to the Premier League’s heavyweights by appealing to the hearts of his recruits rather than their wallets.
He claimed on Thursday that Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Hugo Lloris could all have earned more elsewhere, and also highlighted the record-equalling signing of Moussa Sissoko, given the midfielder snubbed Everton on deadline day after Tottenham tabled a £30million with Newcastle.
That choice, Pochettino suggested, was in spite of Sissoko having the potential to earn more away from White Hart Lane, where he is understood to be paid in the region of £75,000 a week.
‘Our power is not on the financial side,’ Pochettino said. ‘Our power is our facilities, the way we play, it is in the way our supporters show passion.
‘I think Tottenham is a very big club for players that have passion and want to play not only for money but to achieve things and enjoy football.
‘Maybe we need to ask people outside Tottenham, but we feel inside that in the last (transfer window) Tottenham is a very special team for players who want to enjoy football.
‘I can tell you that the players we have are not motivated only for money. That is very important. They feel they want to play for Tottenham.
‘I feel the squad we have today, because it was the case with Sissoko, Vincent Janssen, Victor Wanyama, Harry Kane, Lloris and Eriksen, maybe they have a very good offer from another club and they decided to stay here or maybe come here for less money.’
Pochettino added: ‘We watch a lot of games of the kids, eight, nine, 10 years old – when you play then you don’t play for money, you play because you love football, you love the game and that is an important thing to keep.
‘And we are lucky to have a squad who all play for that reason.’
Tottenham will attempt to get their slow season moving on Saturday at Stoke City, where they won 4-0 in April.
(Daily Mail)
