Pochettino confident of challenging for the title next season

Posted Friday, May 08, 2015 by squawka.com

Tottenham head coach Mauricio Pochettino believes that his side can compete with Champions Chelsea for the Premier League title next season, reports the Daily Express.

Spurs are currently 25 points behind their London rivals who tied up the championship last weekend following a 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace.

But despite the large gap between the sides, the Spurs boss believes his squad is capable of running the Stamford Bridge outfit close next term:

"This is I think a bigger challenge for the next season, to try to reduce the gap, in this case it's Chelsea who are the champions.

"This is a big, big challenge, a very good challenge for us. I think that this is one, our challenge. Two, to be a strong team with a strong mentality and with a very good squad."

Pochettino has endured a mixed debut season at White Hart Lane, defeat to the Blues in the Capital One cup final in March seemed to kick-start a slump in form for the club.

Following the Lillywhites' victory over bitter north London rivals Arsenal in February they moved up into the top four, however since then they've gone on to win just four games from their last 11 outings. Their recent loss at home to Manchester City all-but ruled out a any slim hope of a Champions League place.

An over-reliance on Harry Kane has been suggested as a problem for Spurs but they've managed to score 55 league goals, the fifth highest in the league. It is at the other end of the pitch that will need to be addressed this summer, they've conceded 50 times, the fifth most in the top flight.