Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t pick ‘slackers’, says Ben Davies

“Maybe it was an unexpected defeat against Leicester but we played a very good team”.

They’ve struggled defensively, even following the big-money move to sign Valencia’s Nicolas Otámendi – who has been settling into life in England reasonably well, and stood out as their best defender in the presence of others. Leicester spent most of the past decade outside the Premier League, while Tottenham’s target is usually a top-four finish, something they have achieved only twice since 1992. “If they can get in the Champions League or win the title, it looks set up for a long time at Tottenham”. Taking a team that was expected to be fighting for relegation at the start of the season, filled with misfits and players that were overlooked by other clubs, and taking them to the top of the table. On the training ground, the Argentinean has a reputation for working his players to the bone, with double sessions the norm.

Wimmer has received his chance in the heart of the Spurs defence after Jan Vertonghen suffered an injury.

Tottenham can take confidence too from their 4-1 win over the Sky Blues at White Hart Lane in September but Pochettino insists current form is more important than past results.

“All of the players have bought into exactly what he wants and if we keep going this way then we’ll do well”.

Harry Kane says Spurs are a close side who like, support, and believe in one another, and that’s been key to Spurs’ run to second in the table. When they were all healthy to begin the season, City won it’s four opening matches with a 10-0 scoring margin.

Spurs travel to fourth-placed Manchester City this afternoon in what potentially could be a defining day in the race for the title, with north London rivals Arsenal taking on leaders Leicester at lunchtime.

“Recovery is important as well but when we train, we train at 110 per cent and don’t leave anything unturned”.

“Of course it’s going to be a very tough game for us. Go back to Dave Mackay, Danny Blanchflower and Greavsie, Tottenham were the best team in the country and there’s no reason why they can’t do it again”.

In Kane, Dele Alli, Dembele, Erikson and Lamela, Spurs have players who are creative enough to score goals, but what has been a revelation this season has been the performance of the defense.