Tottenham Hotspur are renowned for being one of the fittest sides in the Premier League.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected as West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis looks on
Former Premier League stalwart Danny Higginbotham has praised Tottenham’s pressing style, and highlighted how many people do not understand the intricacies of Mauricio Pochettino’s philosophy, when writing his column for the Sun.
Spurs currently sit third in the Premier League table, and are the only remaining unbeaten side in the league.
Higginbotham, who made 396 league appearances for 11 different clubs, explained how it is not just Spurs’ high fitness levels that enables them to play in the manner in which Pochettino expects of them, when writing for the Sun:
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and fourth official Mark Clattenburg before the game
“They don’t keep it up for 90 minutes because they don’t try to. Spurs play an energetic press. Yes, they are one of the fittest teams in the Premier League and were one of the few sides that trained twice a day last season. But they do not try to press all 90 minutes, because you can’t. What Tottenham do as well as anybody is the four-second press.”
Pochettino has gained a somewhat unwanted reputation of managing teams who are incredibly energetic throughout the course of the first three quarters of the season, before falling apart towards the end of the campaign due to what many people believe is down to mental and physical fatigue.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis before the game
Higginbotham does not subscribe to this belief, however, and instead attributed their failure to win the league last season on a lack of experience:
“People said last season they blew a gasket and were tired — that’s rubbish. Spurs’ lack of experience and the age of the players stopped them winning the title.”
This season will be a big test for the North London outfit, as they look to prove that they are capable of keeping up their high levels of intensity for the duration of the entire campaign.
Next up for Pochettino’s men is a tricky trip to Germany to take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
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