Mauricio Pochettino laughs off memories of Wembley hoodoo before Rochdale’s visit in FA Cup fifth-round replay
The conquering of the ‘Wembley curse’ has been one of the more quietly impressive parts of Tottenham’s season
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Your support makes all the difference.Tottenham Hotspur host their latest FA cup game on Wednesday night, facing Rochdale in their fifth-round replay at Wembley, hoping to set up an away quarter final later in March.
The FA Cup is the least of Spurs’ priorities, with a Champions League last-16 second leg against Juventus next week as well as their hunt for a top-four place for next season. But while last season they were eventually felled in this competition by a Wembley semi-final, this year they have no such fear about one of those.
The conquering of the ‘Wembley curse’ has been one of the more quietly impressive parts of Tottenham’s season. They have gone from fears that they could not even win there to big signature victories over Liverpool, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United and Arsenal. Last April they froze on the big stage and lost 4-2 to Chelsea in the semi-final. This time, with a season of Wembley football behind them, they have far less to worry about on the big stage.
Pochettino was asked at his press conference on Tuesday afternoon about it and joked that the old ‘hoodoo’ had been reversed by his team’s good form this season. “Now it’s an advantage, whereas before it was a disadvantage,” he joked. “Remember the Wembley hoodoo? The people said Pochettino needs to say ‘Yes, it’s a problem at Wembley’. And to recognise the problem.”
Now Pochettino said his team could be more confident hosting the best sides at their temporary home. “I laugh but it’s not an advantage,” he said. “Because we are playing at a stadium that is massive motivation for our opponent to play. To have the opportunity to play there. But it’s true that now the team is feeling good, comfortable. Yes, we start to feel like it’s like home.”
Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen will be the only injury absentees but Pochettino is expected to continue to rest and rotate players, bringing Harry Winks, Fernando Llorente, Moussa Sissoko and Victor Wanyama back into the side, as he makes sure that Spurs progress while keeping key players fresh for the Premier League game with Huddersfield on Saturday, and Champions League tie with Juventus next week.
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