Tottenham Hotspur are into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Pundit Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that he thinks Mauricio Pochettino needs to focus on the FA Cup – and hailed Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Christian Eriksen.
On Saturday afternoon, Spurs travelled to South Wales to take on Swansea City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, having previously seen off lower league opposition in AFC Wimbledon, Newport County and Rochdale.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were coasting at 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, before Eriksen added another after half time.
Tottenham waltzed into the semi-finals with a 3-0 win, and watched on for the rest of the weekend as Manchester United, Southampton and Chelsea all booked their places in the last four as well.
On Sunday night, the draw for the semi-finals took place, and Spurs were handed a tie against Manchester United, with Pochettino’s men possibly hoping for something of an advantage at Wembley Stadium.
The FA Cup now presents Pochettino with a very real chance of winning his first trophy as Spurs manager, just weeks on from the dramatic collapse at the hands of Juventus in the Champions League.
Now, Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that he thinks Pochettino’s desire to win a ‘major’ trophy is admirable, but he should kickstart a winning mentality by focusing on the FA Cup, responding to comments made by the Argentinian last week.
Redknapp added praise for playmaker Eriksen, suggesting that the Dane was turned from a ‘nice player’ in a ruthless playmaker, dominating games and becoming just as important as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min.
“How does a team create a winning mentality? Mauricio Pochettino has said repeatedly that it is developed by consistent success in the Premier League, not by lifting trophies like the FA Cup,” said Redknapp. “I love Pochettino’s hunger and desire to win football’s biggest prizes – you can see it in his eyes – but he should not overlook the importance the FA Cup can have in turning his team into winners.”
“This Tottenham team is simply too good to go three seasons without silverware but they cannot seem to get over the line in pivotal matches. We saw it against West Ham in the Carabao Cup and Juventus in the Champions League. Tottenham are in danger of being remembered as the great under-achievers but an FA Cup triumph — after beating United in the semi-finals and most likely Chelsea in the final — would prevent that.”
“Christian Eriksen has reached another level with Spurs this season. He has gone from a nice player to a ruthless playmaker who thrives when running games. Eriksen is as important to Mauricio Pochettino as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min. As Swansea discovered to their peril on Saturday, give him time and space and he will destroy you,” he added.
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