Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino has ruled out managing Barcelona as his links with Espanyol makes a move "impossible".

Pochettino has attracted interested from elsewhere after turning Spurs into genuine Premier League title contenders and regular fixtures in the Champions League during four years at the helm.

Spurs face Barcelona at Wembley on Wembley looking to avoid a second defeat in the group stage - after Inter won in injury time in gameweek one.

Pochettino is keen to beat Barcelona having spent six years as player then manager at Espanyol, with his links to the Periquitos an extra motivation.

"It's something that is more than understood," he told Marca.

"I have a lot of friends in Barcelona, who are from the Blaugrana and to whom I have enormous respect, but my path and that of Barcelona are different, opposite directions, and coaching there would be impossible."

He added: "[Facing Barcelona] motivates me being a periquito [Espanyol fan] and living so many years in Barcelona. Going back to the city is always nice and playing against Barcelona, too. It is always motivating."

"Winning a game is always nice and when you win against Barcelona, even more so because that would mean something important for us."

Pochettino was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid during the summer following Zinedine Zidane's shock resignation.

The Argentine says interest is a further validation for his work with Spurs and appreciates the club and his reputation growing in the sport.

"Those things happen in the world of football. Rumours, situations that appear when you least expect it.

"In short everything is experience for a young coach like me and that has ambition to reach the highest as a coach. Everything serves as motivation.

"This means that we are doing a good job and that we attract attention in the football world. We've earned respect and that's good."