Pochettino turns out pockets to suggest Spurs will not spend in January

Those who were hoping that, in absence of any signings this past summer, Tottenham Hotspur would make a big splash in the January transfer window might want to temper their expectations. In a press conference ahead of today’s League Cup quarterfinal against Arsenal, Mauricio Pochettino literally turned out his pockets to suggest he had no funds to purchase players in January.

“I don’t have any money,” he joked, before suggesting that Spurs’ stadium and its ballooning costs did, in fact, have an impact on the club’s transfer budget.

“One thing you need to understand is that Tottenham built the training ground and one of the best stadiums in the world with our own resources.

“Daniel is doing that with our own resources. It’s not like people came from I-don’t-know-where and said, ‘Here’s £500m for the facilities. And what does the manager want? Five players? Okay — we’re going to invest £500m more.’ It’s important to make that clear when we compare Spurs with another team.

“We’re doing everything with our own resources — that’s why it’s massive credit for Daniel. To be competitive like we are, it’s tough. It was tough for Arsenal in a different period.”

Poch suggested Spurs would concentrate on selling its unwanted players while keeping an eye out for opportunities like the one that brought Lucas Moura to Spurs last January.

Pochettino also commented on the recent rumors linking him with a move to Old Trafford as the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United. He didn’t deny interest in the job, but neither did he give any suggestion that he was considering leaving Spurs in the summer.

“I am happy here at Tottenham and I have four-and-a-half years left on my contract. The players don’t care too much about the rumours. We are focused on our job and we are very professional.

“In football no one can guarantee you are going to be here tomorrow. The most important is to enjoy the journey. I’m so happy here.

“What is going to happen is not in our hands — the decision is at another club. We don’t know. That is not my business and then I will not waste time or energy because my focus and energy is in Tottenham. It’s not a problem and the players are not going to lose their focus.”