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Spurs boss Pochettino vows to come out fighting vs Man City… and wants to take on Guardiola in the ring

• Paul Jiggins

• 16 Aug 2019, 22:50
• Updated: 17 Aug 2019, 0:57

MAURICIO POCHETTINO says there is only one way he can give his rival Pep Guardiola a bloody nose in their heavyweight title bout.

The Tottenham boss has vowed to come out fighting at the Etihad tomorrow in a bid to KO the reigning champ with a devastating early blow.

With Manchester City chief Pep victorious in his previous FIFTEEN contests — including last week’s 5-0 opening-day annihilation of West Ham, Poch’s strategy seems either very brave or extremely foolish.

After all, Pep has shown he can land killer blows from a variety of positions.

But Pochettino is adamant his team will not change their style by keeping their guard up and going on the defensive.

And the attack-minded Argie feels his Spurs will have a better chance if they start on the front foot.

His team, of course, were the last to beat City when they won 1-0 at home in their Champions League quarter-final first leg back in April — as they shocked everyone with their dramatic run to reach the final.

Pals know Poch would love nothing more than a repeat victory over his nemesis tomorrow evening — but he also joked he would like to tackle Pep in the boxing ring.

He said: “This match is not about me and Pep.

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“If we want to see who is best the best thing would be for us brave managers to create a ring and fight in it like Anthony Joshua. Perhaps we should do that with managers.

“I am so brave on the touchline because I know this is never going to happen, so I shout and everything.”

Asked who would win in a fight between the pair, former hardman defender Poch said: “I don’t know. You could be surprised. People who are always so relaxed are sometimes the most dangerous! He is strong you know.”

The duo’s fierce rivalry dates back to their days in Barcelona where Pep played and managed at the Nou Camp and Poch did likewise at their Catalan neighbours Espanyol.

While Poch was thinking about pummeling Pep in the ring, the Spaniard was accusing the Spurs boss of not believing what he says.

Guardiola — in his pre-match press conference — lavished praise over his opposite number.

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If we want to see who is best the best thing would be for us brave managers to create a ring and fight in it like Anthony JoshuaMauricio Pochettino on his rivalry with Pep Guardiola

But the City chief added that the Spurs boss does not think he is being genuine.

Pep said: “Overwhelming, extraordinary, I said many times. I don’t know if Pochettino receives as many compliments from other managers as me, I don’t think so.

“My opinion about him is high standards, even if he doesn’t believe me, so he’s a top, top, top, top manager.”

The bitterness erupted two seasons ago in England when Guardiola referred to Spurs as “the Harry Kane team” which Pochettino said was disrespectful to the club.

He has also previously said that Guardiola “struggles to be a gentleman” alluding to his exuberance on the touchline when City score.

Poch has a decent record against Pep and hopes to add to that this evening by playing in their usual attacking style.

TOP OF THE POCH

Poch said: “That is about our philosophy. I think if you play an opponent you have to care about their skills and analyse their strengths and weaknesses to find a way to beat them.

“We respect City and all the other 18 teams in the Premier League. But we have a way we love to play.

“Sometimes you can win and lose but we are always brave.

“We try to move forward and try think of us before the opponents. Maybe that is the key to beating Manchester City. We will see.

“From day one, five years ago, when we started we tried to develop the game in the way that we wanted to play — be brave, pressing hard, defensive line so high.

“We started to build our way to play, our philosophy, assuming that maybe we didn’t have the players to try and play in that way.

“But we tried to help the players to become players who could fit into the way we wanted to play.

“And what is so interesting in Tottenham is that after five years we are doing the same. We are trying to improve the players.

“And those players who don’t have the characteristics or the profile to play in that way, we are trying to push them because it’s the way we believe in.

“That is the difference when you compare us with another team.

“And it is why in a long-term period you are going to win more games than you lose.

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