• Tottenham manager says money is not everything • ‘We are closer in points [to the top] than our budget says’

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted Leicester are on Tottenham’s level when it comes to investment but insists money is not everything when it comes to competing at the top end of the Premier League.

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After bouncing back from a derby defeat against Arsenal with a midweek win over Southampton, Spurs travel to the King Power stadium on Saturday night. They could be 11 points behind the leaders Manchester City by the time they kick off but Tottenham are also eight points better off than they were this time last season and their manager believes time and consistency are key to keeping up with the biggest-spending clubs.

“Leicester are a very good team,” Pochettino said. “After the tragedy [of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s death], it’s such a difficult thing to recover from. We are so sorry for them. But they have a great manager, great players, they play so well with clear ideas. It’s not easy and for me it will be a tough game, it will be more difficult than the previous game.

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“When you compare the investment or budget, we are in the same position as Everton, West Ham or Leicester. Of course we are so far from the big sides like City or United. But in points we are closer to them than the others. In performance last season the same; we are closer in points than our budget says.”

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Pochettino added: “It is not easy to improve only with investment. You need time: to invest, to create a philosophy, a methodology. I think what Tottenham have is a clear idea. Then you have to try to keep your best players to be competitive. Sometimes money is going to help but it is not the most important thing. And in the end everyone invests, still only one team can win.”

Reports this week once again linked Pochettino with a move to a club with a bigger budget; after Real Madrid earlier in the season, this time it was Manchester United. “It is recognition for us,” he said. “I don’t need to listen about what goes around and when people say: ‘We are nice guys and maybe we know something about football.’ The most important thing is how you are made to feel in your home.”