Mauricio Pochettino urges Tottenham players to make history in Champions League final

Mauricio Pochettino will tell his Tottenham players they are ready for the biggest game of their lives and now it is up to them to go out and make history.

Spurs boss Pochettino believes his team have been stress-tested during a campaign littered with complications, from the World Cup, via injuries and the transfer market to the delays over the new stadium.

‘All those difficulties have made us stronger as a group, more creative and we have shown if you believe and work hard in football you are rewarded,’ he said. 

The Argentine boss was relaxed as his players trained inside the Wanda Metropolitano stadium

Pochettino’s side go in as underdogs but he issued a rallying cry for them to write history

Tottenham have been on a rollercoaster to the final and are going for a first Champions League

‘That shows the grit of our team and how competitive we are. We have shown we are robust for the last 10 months.

‘We couldn’t bring in new players and we decided not to sell. We sold Mousa Dembele in January because his dream was to play in China. We haven’t been able to play in the new stadium until a couple of months ago. 

‘We want to write the history in football and we know very well what we need to do.’

Injured striker Harry Kane is back involved and is pushing for a starting berth out in Madrid

Harry Winks is another who could be go into the starting XI for the club’s biggest ever game

Pochettino, passing instructions to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (left), is not feeling the pressure

Pochettino has all his players fit again and knows he will break hearts when he selects his team, including choosing two from England captain Harry Kane, hero of the semi-final Lucas Moura or Heung-min Son, one of his stars of the season.

‘It is not an easy decision to take,’ said Pochettino. 

‘You can use only 11 players and that is the most painful situation. The energy of those not in the team is going to be decisive. Football is a collective sport but, of course, they will be hurting inside.’

Pochettino has taken great care to prepare his players during three weeks since the end of the Premier League season and expects them to be in ‘autopilot’ ahead of the big game.

‘Football relies on footballers and they will decide who wins,’ said the Spurs manager. 

‘We will have less influence. Three weeks ago we had more influence, preparing the team. Now our influence lessens. We only need to reassure the players.

Pochettino accepts players like Heung-min Son will be disappointed if they start on the bench

Tottenham’s players have been handled with care since the end of the Premier League season

Midfielder Dele Alli receives possession in his stride and his impact could be huge for Spurs

‘When the players arrive close to the competition they are closed, focused on the competition and they will express themselves depending on how you prepared.

‘Under stress, there is always a period of automatic pilot. You need to feel safe. More than ever when you have one billion watching you.

‘The key is not to think of one billion people but to go and enjoy, play run, and help each other with good communication.’