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Mauricio Pochettino insists his Tottenham players have the belief they can win the title - but warned everyone is now out to “kill them.”

Tottenham overtook Manchester City to go second behind leaders Liverpool and the win puts them six points behind Jurgen Klopp’s front runners.

Pochettino claims his squad are not lacking in confidence - but now face a new test because they have now become title contenders and have to deal with the extra pressure.

Spurs boss Pochettino said: “We are there because we have amazing belief - and without that belief it would be impossible to be in this position.

“We have faith and we have clear ideas and now the challenge is to keep that because the challenge is going to be tougher than before.

“When you are in the top two everyone wants to kill you. It will be so much tougher.

“But we need to remain humble and continue working hard as it will now be much more difficult than before.

“Then maybe in April or May we can seriously about being serious challengers as there is still a long way to go. Only then will we know if we are true contenders for the title.”

(Image: Alex Broadway)

Pochettino also insisted he takes no pride in proving the club’s critics wrong - but did praise his players for overcoming obstacles in a tricky season.

Poch added: “In six months we never complain about anything. We no complain about no signings, we no complain about the stadium, we no complain about the fixture, we no complain about come to play at Wembley when the plan was to play in the new stadium and the pitch because Wembley was booked for the season, the fans very disappointed - many, many things.

“But one thing we have kept is the belief and been positive, we created a bubble and now that is paying [off] and we are I think in that position because we work a lot.

(Image: REUTERS)

“First of all the players, they really believe in what we proposed to work and to play and of course all the staff and the areas of the club deserve credit. Still we are halfway of the season, but to break records like the best first half in the Premier League and many things that can make us very proud.

“Of course the opinion, if we go back six months ago, was a normal opinion that I totally agree or accept that opinion.”