Pochettino: I want to manage Tottenham for 20 years

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed his desire to emulate Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger by staying at Tottenham Hotspur for 20 years.

The Spurs manager said it was “massive praise” to be compared with Wenger ahead of tomorrow’s north London derby at the Emirates Stadium, adding that the Frenchman was a “special” manager and one of football’s great innovators.

The emergence of a string of youngsters at Tottenham, and their energetic style of play, has prompted comparisons between Pochettino’s work at the club and the early years of Wenger’s 21-year reign at Arse- “What he is doing at Arsenal and as a manager, I would like to be like him one day,” Pochettino said. “Twenty years at Tottenham.”

Pochettino’s side last season finished above Arsenal in the league for the first time since Wenger took over in 1996, and Tottenham are unbeaten in six north London derbies in the Premier League since the Argentine was appointed as manager in 2014.

“In football history he is one of the great managers, the same level as [Sir Alex] Ferguson,” Pochettino said. “Everyone who talks about him needs to show respect. For me he will always be a special manager. To stay 20 years in a club and stay always at the top is not easy. To stay in a club for five years is because you are a good manager, if you stay 10 years it is because you must be very good. But to stay more than 20 years is because you are special.”

Pochettino, whose side are currently three places and four points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League, added: “Wenger was an innovator, ahead of everyone, like Ferguson. It is difficult to innovate but you must try to create a project under your ideas and philosophies to take you ahead of other clubs. They were ahead. That is why my respect and admiration is high.”

Despite Tottenham’s impressive run of form against Arsenal, they have not won at the Emirates since November 2010. The task has been made harder by the absence of defender Toby Alderweireld, who has been ruled out until Christmas at least after a hamstring injury he suffered against Real Madrid in the Champions League turned out to be worse than initially feared.

However, Tottenham are likely to be boosted by the return of Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Dele Alli, all of whom were ruled out of England’s friendlies against Germany and Brazil. The trio returned to full training yesterday but will have their fitness tested today.

The same applies for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was also injured against Real Madrid and missed the 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace before the international break.