The fact that Tottenham Hotspur are viewed as having a mission impossible in terms of Champions League qualification only serves as motivation for them to prove the doubters wrong, according to coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Nothing less than a win will do for the Londoners when they welcome Inter to Wembley Stadium on matchday five of the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Inter’s late heroics in Milan in the first round of fixtures have them in pole position, as they currently sit three points ahead of the English side with just two games left to play.
“For me, [being written off] is a massive motivation for us. When people say that something is going to be difficult, for me I am then excited to show why it is possible and it is different,” he told the assembled media.
“For both myself and the team, it is a massive motivation. Of course, we know that we need to win the two games but we are going to try to do that. We will give our best to achieve that.
“You can’t worry about the financial side of it though and what it will mean if you don’t make it to the next round or it will be a negative impact but I think that we should aspire to make it through and play in the Champions League.”
While the Argentine tactician wouldn’t be drawn on whether it was the biggest game of his tenure since the night their Premier League title challenge in 2016 finally fell at Stamford Bridge, he is fully aware of the magnitude of the occasion.
“I think it’s important because it’s going to give us hope or it’s going to give us a different reality, that you cannot fight to go to the next stage of the Champions League. It’s a decisive game,” he acknowledged.
“It’s a must-win game but I think for me all the games are so important. That game was important but this one is decisive. I think every time we are going to compete it’s important for me.
“Always you feel something special when you are going to compete, because you are trying to go to the next stage or when you play for three points or for your pride. I am a competitor who likes to win. For me the most important thing is when you play for your pride. Tomorrow is the most important game for me.”
