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Poch: 'We can win this competition"

guiltyparty

Well-Known Member
Sep 21, 2005
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13,524
From F365: http://www.football365.com/news/mediawatch-the-ozil-story-has-a-happy-ending

“In my opinion the Europa League is not an attractive competition. That is my personal opinion, I’m not talking about anyone else, it’s my personal opinion and as Mauricio Pochettino there is no interest in the Europa League. That is my opinion, not the club’s opinion. I think it is a competition that kills you” – Mauricio Pochettino, February 2014.

“It is a great opportunity to gain more experience there and make it our home. Also for the squad it is important to be involved in different competitions. The younger players need this experience in Europe. It’s a good opportunity to win a trophy” –
Mauricio Pochettino, December 2016.

'You’ve got to admire that positive spin.'
 
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Dave-F

Amused, bemused and confused. Where's the coffee?
Feb 26, 2004
2,709
715
The Europa League has benefited many squad developing players in the past, such as Kane. I suspect/hope this could be the chance for N'Koudou, Winks, Carter Vickers, Lopez, Omomah, Carroll, Trippeir and Jansen to show what they can do. Sprinkle that bunch with a rotation of first team players and we have a good chance of a semi-final. From there, push on with the first team
 

dricha1

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2005
1,311
2,579
Looking at the CL drop outs and who's due to qualify from EL, the Europa is very winnable this year..
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
There are less games to win in the EL to get a free pass to next seasons CL than needed to qualify in the PL.
 

spursbhoy67

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2006
1,316
1,475
I have beat this drum to death on here - we cannot talk about players developing a winning mentality until we actually win something.

We have wasted numerous chances in recent years to win a trophy and I fear we will overlook the Europa this season too.

Clubs on the continent take the competition seriously and have used success in it as a platform to develop for the CL. We should too.

I would rather finish fifth and win the Europa Cup to qualify for the CL than to finish third or fourth in the league and qualify through our league position.

Right now winning the Europa Cup appears a more realistic option than finishing above Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

I would make the Europa a priority. If not, then it must be made clear that the competition will be used for developing the fringe and youth players. I can support that as a fan, but in truth I want to win the Europa.
 

Chris_D

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2007
2,652
1,278
I have beat this drum to death on here - we cannot talk about players developing a winning mentality until we actually win something.

We have wasted numerous chances in recent years to win a trophy and I fear we will overlook the Europa this season too.

Clubs on the continent take the competition seriously and have used success in it as a platform to develop for the CL. We should too.

I would rather finish fifth and win the Europa Cup to qualify for the CL than to finish third or fourth in the league and qualify through our league position.

Right now winning the Europa Cup appears a more realistic option than finishing above Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

I would make the Europa a priority. If not, then it must be made clear that the competition will be used for developing the fringe and youth players. I can support that as a fan, but in truth I want to win the Europa.
I can remember when qualifying for the (then) UEFA Cup was seen as a good thing. We'd be mad not to give everything to win it although it's a huge ask. We can't play the kids like we did in the group stages a few years ago, we need our best eleven in every game and it's possible. Let's be honest, if we had got through in the Champions League it was maybe two ties at best. In this competition there's the chance to go all the way. If we could pull it off it would be our best achievement since 84 so let's go all out for glory.
 

npearl4spurs

Believing Member
Sep 9, 2014
4,191
10,973
As always, I think we have enough talent and depth to win it if Poch and the players want to win it.

I don't think the desire has always been there. But we have enough when healthy to advance to the quarter finals at least. From there it is anybody's game.
 

Everlasting Seconds

Well-Known Member
Jan 9, 2014
14,914
26,616
I have beat this drum to death on here - we cannot talk about players developing a winning mentality until we actually win something.

We have wasted numerous chances in recent years to win a trophy and I fear we will overlook the Europa this season too.

Clubs on the continent take the competition seriously and have used success in it as a platform to develop for the CL. We should too.

I would rather finish fifth and win the Europa Cup to qualify for the CL than to finish third or fourth in the league and qualify through our league position.

Right now winning the Europa Cup appears a more realistic option than finishing above Chelsea, City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

I would make the Europa a priority. If not, then it must be made clear that the competition will be used for developing the fringe and youth players. I can support that as a fan, but in truth I want to win the Europa.
Spot on. Save for Leicester, historically speaking most PL winners won a trophy – any trophy – the season before.
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
The only thing we can be confident about is that Pochettino will not rest key players in the Premiership, so they can play in the next three rounds of the Europa League - he'd get crucified.

If you get to the final, the EL adds 9 matches to a club's schedule, starting from the commencement of the knockout phase, i.e., now. There will be have to be rotation, especially of fullbacks, but if key players in midfield or attack need to be rested, they will be omitted from cup and EL squads, not in league matches. Perhaps if we get to the EL semi-final, that might change.

So anyone who reckons we should be be prioritising winning the EL at the potential expense of our league campaign is likely to be disappointed.
 

cliff jones

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
4,059
6,513
The Europa League has benefited many squad developing players in the past, such as Kane. I suspect/hope this could be the chance for N'Koudou, Winks, Carter Vickers, Lopez, Omomah, Carroll, Trippeir and Jansen to show what they can do. Sprinkle that bunch with a rotation of first team players and we have a good chance of a semi-final. From there, push on with the first team[/QUOTE

No way. We need to play a first eleven sprinkled very lightly with a Winks, Dier and Nkoudou otherwise we will be out as soon as we meet anyone any good.
 

deadlight

Well-Known Member
Dec 14, 2006
1,361
788
I'm assuming (hoping?) that with Toby being back, Dier can go back to his holding midfield position, so maybe Wanyama will seeing more of the bench than Dier?
 
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