Tottenham Spurs vs Southampton - Pochettino: Finishing above Arsenal not important for Spurs

Posted Sunday, May 08, 2016 by PA

Mauricio Pochettino insists finishing above Arsenal is not important to Tottenham this season.

Spurs have ended every campaign below their bitter rivals since 1995 but are within touching distance of breaking that streak with two games left to play.

Pochettino's men sit three points clear of the Gunners in second and are also 14 ahead on goal difference, meaning one win will almost certainly be enough.

Tottenham will be hoping to seal that victory when they host Southampton on Sunday, but Pochettino maintains Arsenal are not on their agenda.

"No, I don't think about that," the Argentinian said.

"We have our own challenge but it is not our principle challenge to be above Arsenal.

"We want to play well and win trophies but this is not important for us."

Spurs must also bounce back from bowing out of the title race, after Monday's draw at Chelsea ensured Leicester would be crowned Barclays Premier League champions this weekend.

Champions League qualification, however, means Tottenham's season has still been a resounding success and Pochettino says his players will not be downbeat following the end of their title challenge.

"I think we have the same motivation to play the next game. We want to keep second place in the table," Pochettino said.

"Nothing changes for us. To finish in the top four is fantastic, this is our challenge and our goal from the start of the season.

"Last season I said our objective was to reduce the gap with the top four. We are in the top four.

"Maybe we feel disappointed because we had the opportunity to win the Premier League but we need to feel proud and next season we need to fight for the same goals."

Mousa Dembele will not play at White Hart Lane as he begins a six-game ban for violent conduct and Dele Alli is also out, serving the second of a three-match suspension.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has a fully fit squad to choose from for the trip to White Hart Lane.

And the Dutchman is determined to avoid losing any of his key players this summer.

Morgan Schneiderlin, Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne, Adam Lallana and Calum Chambers have all left St Mary's in recent years.

Defender Jose Fonte recently urged the club not to sell their strongest players but Koeman accepts it is a difficult balancing act.

He said: "Yes (I don't want to sell players) but if it is realistic, I don't know, but of course you like to keep everybody, you like to keep the best players and to have a more stronger team for next season than we do already this season.

"But it is all about interesting players and money and okay we know we are Southampton, it is difficult to compete against the big ones but of course we would like to keep the players in the club.

"Sometimes it is good to have some changes in the squad or sell some players because then it means you can maybe have a stronger squad than before but it is difficult if you lose every season one, two, three of your best players and then it is difficult but we are Southampton, we know we need to be realistic and we like to do our best.

"It is a big achievement for everybody that still we are fighting for Europe because that is what we wanted, our ambition at the beginning of the season."