Wednesday, 14 September 2016

Manager Mauricio Pochettino insists Tottenham's move to Wembley for Champions League matches will not hamper their European hopes.

Spurs host French league leaders Monaco at Wembley in their first Champions League fixture since 2011, as White Hart Lane's capacity is reduced due to work being done on a new stadium.

"We need to behave naturally and not try to find an excuse, that's never good," said Pochettino, 44."It's a chance to play on a big pitch."
Striker Harry Kane believes the prospect of up to 90,000 Tottenham fans in the national stadium is "only going to make you play better".

Spurs, quarter-finalists in 2011, have two pitches at their training ground with the same dimensions as Wembley, a stadium they have won just once at since it was re-opened in 2007.


"You have more space to play, it's more difficult for the opponent to press you when there are more metres to run," added Pochettino, who has never managed in the Champions League. "We trust in us. We feel good at White Hart Lane because it's our home and we need to feel good at Wembley."


Defender Danny Rose remains sidelined with a hamstring injury but Pochettino otherwise has a full squad to choose from against a side Tottenham played twice in last season's Europa League, winning 4-1 and drawing 1-1.

Monaco will be without defender Benjamin Mendy but manager Leonardo Jardim has Radamel Falcao as a striking option as his side look for a sixth win in a row.
Jardim's side - eliminated in Champions League qualifying last season - have three wins and a draw in Ligue 1, overcoming Paris St-Germain and Lille in the process.

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