Tottenham boss Pochettino says Carabao Cup not a priority

Mauricio Pochettino has boldly claimed his Tottenham Hotspur team have aspirations of winning the Champions League while admitting the Carabao Cup is firmly at the bottom of his list of priorities.

Spurs can book a place in the last eight of the Football League’s knockout tournament by beating London rivals West Ham United at Wembley on Wednesday night.

Pochettino has yet to win a trophy as a manager and many pundits have suggested that picking up a first piece of silverware – any silverware – could give his side a huge boost.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted winning the Carabao Cup wouldn’t change his life

Pochettino will rest Harry Kane (right) and other stars when Spurs host West Ham in the last 16

Pochettino will rest Harry Kane (right) and other stars when Spurs host West Ham in the last 16

The Tottenham boss (pictured at FIFA's The Best awards) is focused on the Premier League

The Tottenham boss (pictured at FIFA’s The Best awards) is focused on the Premier League

But while the 45-year-old conceded he would like to lift the Carabao Cup next February, he insisted it would be far from life-changing.

‘Our objective is to win the Premier League, to win the Champions League,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘And then there is the FA Cup, of course, I would like to win and I would like to win the Carabao Cup, but if you want to be a big team and fight for big things, I think it is impossible if you don’t use all the squad and rotate in England.’

Pochettino added: ‘The manager always wants to win. To win the Carabao Cup? Yes, of course, but it would not change the life of Tottenham.

‘The FA Cup? Fantastic, I would love to win all the competitions in the world but it really changes your life if you win the Premier League or the Champions League. That is the truth.’

Tottenham’s hopes of winning the Premier League will be tested on Saturday when they visit fellow title wannabes Manchester United, who are currently ahead of them on goal difference.

Argentine Pochettino also said that one of his 'objectives' is to win the Champions League

Argentine Pochettino also said that one of his ‘objectives’ is to win the Champions League

Spurs started their European challenge this season by beating Dortmund 3-1 at Wembley

Spurs started their European challenge this season by beating Dortmund 3-1 at Wembley

Kane and Harry Winks (right) then helped Spurs secure an impressive 1-1 draw at Real Madrid

Kane and Harry Winks (right) then helped Spurs secure an impressive 1-1 draw at Real Madrid

Spurs thrashed Liverpool 4-1 last weekend and are currently five points behind leaders Manchester City.

They allowed Liverpool to dominate possessionĀ at Wembley and frightened Jurgen Klopp’s men on the counter-attack.

It is a tactic very different to high-tempo pressing style Spurs used for the majority of last season. But it also worked a treat in recent European games against Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

Spurs had less than 33 per cent of possession as they dispatched Dortmund 3-1 in September, before holding Real to a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu where the Spaniards had the ball for two thirds of the contest.

These displays may not have done enough to convince the public that Spurs are true contenders for Europe’s top prize, but Pochettino’s statement of intent will be taken more seriously now than it would have at the start of their Group H campaign.

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