Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: Money does not buy success
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insists he does not have to splash the cash to bring success to White Hart Lane.
Spurs chose not to buy any senior players during the January transfer window despite concerns surrounding the club's reliance on Harry Kane up front.
Andros Townsend was sold to Newcastle for B#12million but the money was not reinvested as Pochettino continues to place faith in youth and squad harmony ahead of big-money signings.
Tottenham's net spend stands at around -B#6m during Pochettino's four transfer windows in charge, with expensive arrivals like Heung Son-min and Toby Alderweireld offset by the sale of fringe players like Roberto Soldado, Paulinho and Etienne Capoue.
Pochettino said on Thursday Spurs fans should expect a "tough period" as the club saves money for the new stadium opening in 2018-19, but the Argentine believes success can still be achieved on a budget.
"We grow up in this financial world and my quote is always, 'Football is not an ordinary business'. That is very important," Pochettino said.
"You can spend a lot of money and create a big team and win everything.
"But sometimes you can maybe not spend too much money and buy cleverly and by mixing the pieces you can build a big team too.
"For me, this is the most important thing - to be clever and try to discover the best way to get success."
He added: "If you get success, you are shown to be right. If not, the people kill you. You are always going to take decisions against the normal way that everybody is thinking."
Watford will present a tough challenge this weekend, as proven by the reverse fixture in December when only a late Son goal snatched a 2-1 win at Vicarage Road.
The defeat began a four-match losing run for the Hornets but Quique Sanchez Flores' side have picked up in recent weeks, beating Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup before holding Chelsea to a goalless draw on Wednesday.
"They played very well against a good team like Chelsea," Pochettino said.
"I was at the game and you can see they are a very good team with good players.
"Quique Sanchez Flores is a great manager and it will be good to meet him on Saturday.
"We need to be focused because they are a very tough team and we expect a very difficult game."
Dele Alli will be available for the game. Alli came off at half-time in the Norwich match feeling dizzy but the in-form youngster has returned to training and will be assessed.
Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason could also feature after recovering from an ankle injury but Clinton Njie and Jan Vertonghen are both out with knee problems.
Meanwhile, Flores has stoked the fire ahead of the clash by declaring he would not swap Odion Ighalo or Troy Deeney for Harry Kane.
England international Kane now has 14 goals from his last 15 league appearances after he scored a brace in Spurs' 3-0 victory at Norwich on Tuesday night.
But, when asked if he would prefer to have Kane in his side rather than Ighalo or Deeney, Flores replied: "No, no. I don't change my players for anyone."
Kane's league tally for the season stands at 15, which is one greater than Ighalo has managed, while Deeney has found the back of the net on six occasions. Hornets captain Deeney has also created 26 chances for Ighalo, which is more than any other player for a team-mate in the Premier League.
"(On Saturday) we have the opportunity to look at three of the best strikers in the league," Flores added. "Kane is a very good player and he is very important for them.
"Tottenham play really well in midfield with Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele, but if you don't have a good striker it is impossible - and they have one of the best strikers in the league."
Capoue and Miguel Britos will both be assessed by Watford. Defender Britos missed the goalless draw against Chelsea through illness while Capoue, substituted after 87 minutes, is also under the weather.
On-loan defender Nathan Ake returns after not being eligible to face his parent club and new signing Mario Suarez could be handed his first start. Defenders Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) both continue their rehabilitation.
Source: PAR
