Maurio Pochettino: Tottenham not ready to be trophy contenders

Tottenham players, from left, Lucas Moura, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose train at the San Siro. Picture: Getty.

Spurs won their opening three games of the Premier League, including a 3-0 success at Manchester United, to raise expectations that they could be a real threat for trophies this term.

But they have since lost back-to-back league games against Watford and Liverpool and Pochettino, whose side kick off their Champions League campaign against Inter Milan on this evening, thinks they are way off being challengers.

He said: “We are not realistic contenders in any single competition, that is my view.

“If we show the same face as against Watford, it’s impossible to be a contender. If we show the face (we showed against) Liverpool, it will be so difficult.

“If we show some of what we did against Manchester United then maybe yes. I explained after Old Trafford it was difficult to keep the feet on the grass and believe that the job was done.

“But we need to work harder and be more competitive and improve. The last two defeats are so good but it is a wake-up call and we have to try to improve and we have time. It is only the start of  the season.

“We have to show our best and show we deserve to be a contender. We need to be consistent to be a contender.

“It is important for them to see the reality if they are going to improve. And if we are going to be a contender then we need to improve a lot. A lot.

“If not we will be a good team, we will win some and lose some, but a contender is different.

“In my mind if you want to be a contender you need to show much, much more. We won three games in a row and after we went to Watford and Liverpool and were not capable to win, it is difficult to be considered a contender.”

Spurs travelled to Milan without injured trio Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko, while Pochettino, pictured, has also chosen to surprisingly leave Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld in London.

On the pair’s omission, the Argentinian said: “It’s a technical decision. What does it mean? It’s a technical decision. You can look it up, find it in the dictionary. A technical decision. Tactical is on the pitch.

“Yeah, maybe tactical is outside of the pitch, too. But it’s technical decision, tactical decision, it’s a decision in the end. You cannot bring 25 players. You can only play 11 players with seven on the bench. That is the reason.

“You are clever enough to try to understand. This is my fifth season, I never punish players because you win or lose.

“It’s the plan. The plan is keep them (in London) and use different players to play tomorrow.

“There’s nothing behind the decision. It’s only that we’re going to play with different players tomorrow.

“Like when you play with Toby or Kieran, it’s another player out. The best position is to play with different players.”