LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino has played down the importance's of Saturday's FA Cup semifinal against Manchester United, reiterating that winning the competition will not take the club to the next level.

Before every FA Cup game this season, Pochettino has expressed mixed feelings about the competition, which he would love to win but does not feel would be a signpost for bigger things or alter the perception of the club.

And speaking ahead of the match against United at Wembley Stadium, Spurs' temporary home, he said again that ending Spurs' decade-long trophy drought by winning a first FA Cup since 1991 would not change the club.

"People sometimes have short memories. When we arrived here four years ago, all people were talking about was reducing the gap to the top four and the challenge was to play in the Champions League. Remember your questions?" Pochettino told a media conference.

"It was if we are not capable to play Champions League or in Europe -- first of all, it was in Europe -- how can we retain our best players? And then how can we attract good players?

Tottenham would love to celebrate an FA Cup title but it wouldn't change anything, says Mauricio Pochettino. GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images

"And then we move on, and move on, and go higher and higher and now, it's to win [a trophy]. But I promise you the club is not going to change if you win or don't win the FA Cup or the Capital One [League Cup].

"It would be fantastic to add a trophy to the club but what would put us to a different level would be to win the Premier League or Champions League. That is going to put you in a different level.

"People love to talk about perception and changing perceptions. After a good Champions League group stage -- we beat Dortmund, Real Madrid and we competed very well against Juventus [in the round-of-16] -- the dimension of the club around the world changes completely. But in the end, we still need to improve and improve."

Spurs have lost seven consecutive FA Cup semifinals -- a competition record -- but Pochettino dismissed the suggestion that there is pressure from the club's support to end that run on Saturday and urged his players to enjoy the occasion.

"I don't believe the fans add more pressure," he said. "The pressure we put on ourselves in trying to win and motivation is massive. We don't need the pressure from the fans to reach the final.

"We are talking about creating a winning mentality of the team to change the history of this club. It is about arriving at the semifinal before arriving at the final. We need to enjoy, we are not scared.

"It is about to play and enjoy and be brave and not feeling the pressure. It's about showing better quality than our opponent. I don't think we feel the pressure from our fans."

Pochettino has Toby Alderweireld available again after a successful return to the first-team against Brighton on Tuesday but he played down the chances of switching to a back three including the Belgian against United.

"I think after 14 games unbeaten in the Premier League, using a similar system, I think it's not a point to change," he said.