• Premier League

Spurs project is just beginning, says Pochettino

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has told Spurs' fans to stick by him as he begins his "project" at White Hart Lane.

Pochettino is enjoying an impressive debut season at Spurs, who are sixth in the league and just three points off the Champions League places, as well as reaching the final of the League Cup and the last-32 of the Europa League.

"In football, you can never stop in front of a mirror and say, 'How good am I?'" Pochettino said.

"We are only at the beginning of our project. We don't have any clear targets. There are four teams who have greater potential than us: United, City, Chelsea and Arsenal. And then there's Liverpool.

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"We're just looking to go as far as we can - in the Premier League, Europe and in the Cup."

Fiorentina stand in their way in Europe, with the first leg taking place on Thursday, and Pochettino is not under-estimating the Italian side, who are currently fourth in Serie A.

"It's going to be a fascinating tie," Pochettino added. "I've got a lot of respect for Italian football. There are always highs and lows, but even in one of its worst moments, Serie A still has great value. I like the way Fiorentina play [under Vincenzo Montella]. His brand of football is very Spanish.

"They are a side you could enrol in the Primera Division and nobody would realise they are Italian."

Pochettino also heaped praise on Harry Kane, describing him as "one of the best forwards in the Premier League", but warns the in-form striker he must continue to work hard and improve.

Kane has scored 23 goals in 35 games in all competitions for Spurs this season and is set to be given his first senior England call-up for next month's games against Lithuania and Italy.

Seven of those goals have come in as many Europa League appearances Pochettino told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he hopes Kane with fire his side past the Italians.

"Harry has enormous potential," Pochettino said. "Today, he is already one of the best forwards in the Premier League. What he has to aim to do now, to continue his rise, is to work hard every day and show continuity."

Pochettino had equally warm words for Christian Eriksen, who "also has exceptional quality".

"He loves to find gaps," added the Spurs manager. "He moves between the lines of attack and midfield, where nobody is, and he can do everything from there."

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