Mauricio Pochettino in passionate plea to restless Tottenham fans

The Argentine restated his desire to win games and, indeed, trophies. But all within Tottenham's timescale

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino today made an impassioned plea for support and patience from the club’s fans, as well as for understanding of his view that winning a domestic cup will not automatically help the team win one of the bigger prizes.

Pochettino seemed to feel the need to clear the air and make his point as his answer to the first question of Tuesday’s press conference became almost a speech in which he restated his desire to win games and, indeed, trophies. But all within the club’s timescale.

“When I signed at Tottenham, nobody lied to me,” he said. “They told me, we need your help to finish the stadium and the facilities. They said to me, ‘We know very well that we are not going to provide everything that you deserve and you want’. They told me I had to understand the objective was to finish the stadium and then to try to make the club into the club that it wants to be.”

That, though, has already been delayed several times and the supporters are, he admitted, getting tired of continual promises. But he wants them to stay behind the team, starting against Watford at Wembley.

“Of course, it is a massive disappointment for everybody. First of all for Daniel [Levy, the chairman] and the board, that they cannot deliver the job on time. And of course, that affects the team and everybody. That is why it is my responsibility to be positive and optimistic. My job is to call to the fans to give the last push that we need. The club needs the help of the fans because they are the core and the soul of the club and this is a massive moment.

“I know I can’t ask for more, but all together we need the last push to finish in the top four or maybe be a real contender. Then, playing in the Champions League is an exciting moment for the club.”

Successive cup exits at the hands of Chelsea and Crystal Palace were blows, he admitted, but do not affect the club’s greater goals. “When you ask me if I agree that to win a domestic cup will help us to achieve the last level, I cannot.

“In the last four or five years we played in four semi-finals, one final, I think we try, we were there, we were close, and in last three seasons, we are consistently playing Champions League, and finishing in the top four. It’s about improving every season, improving our structure, our way to operate, improving our squad, improving our facilities, and I think if you make the list you can nearly tick all the boxes. We are so close, we need to try to keep working. The fans that are not happy [now], in the future are going to appreciate the job everyone is doing at this football club.”

Pochettino reiterated his intention to see out his five-year contract and insisted that the club’s steady rather than spectacular progress would not affect the desire of players such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli to remain at the club.

“When I arrived here at Tottenham, Dele Alli was with the under 18s at Milton Keynes and Harry Kane was the fourth striker in the squad and for the last three years was on loan. I hear we need to be in the Champions League to attract top players. But now we are in the Champions League, in the top four, and we are talking about we are not going to keep these players who, four years ago were at a different level?”

In the long term, he insisted, Tottenham will be in a position to compete not only with Manchester City and Chelsea but also Real Madrid.

“In the future? Of course. I think Tottenham have all the infrastructure, or is going to have the infrastructure to one day be a club that can be a contender for every single title. But patience is difficult in football, like in life, we see something and we want it straight away. Football is about building, believing and to keep working hard and develop the project.”