Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochetino has revealed the reasons behind their no-show in the just conclude transfer window.
Spurs became the first club in England to fail to bring a new player during the Summer since 2003 but Pochetino pointed out that the fact that they were able to keep their best players informed, partly, their decision to keep a low profile this time around.
The Argentine further pointed out the effects of Brexit that has made player prices go up by a further 30%. Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min will remain with the club as they look to go back to White Hart Lane after a full season at Wembley last time.
“Building a new training ground, finishing this summer the lodge was a massive investment. Building a stadium that is nearly £1bn. That is true, don’t believe in £400m, that is the truth. And then with Brexit, it is worse because the cost is 30% more, and then keep the best players. For me [that] is to be brave.” Pochetino explained.
“Of course maybe in the mind of everyone, they will say, ‘Oh Tottenham didn’t sign’, but to sign for the sake of signing? You need to respect all the opinions but of course we are a club that our decision was not to sign, (even though) it is the fashion to sign or because we are the only club in Europe that has not signed players.” he added.
The tactician remains hopeful before the start of the season saying the club is heading towards the right direction and has promised to take responsibility for the club’s performance.
“I am responsible for what I told you or what I tell you but I cannot be responsible for what you believe that I wanted to tell you.” the tactician concluded.
The club’s home ground for the 2018–19 season will be Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the club will play their first home game of the season at Wembley Stadium. Their former home of White Hart Lane had been demolished to make way for the new stadium on the same site. Their training ground is on Hotspur Way in Bulls Cross in the London Borough of Enfield.
Founded in 1882, Tottenham won the FA Cup for the first time in 1901, the only non-League club to do so since the formation of the Football League in 1888. Tottenham were the first club in the 20th century to achieve the League and FA Cup Double, winning both competitions in the 1960–61 season. After successfully defending the FA Cup in 1962, in 1963 they became the first British club to win a UEFA club competition – the European Cup Winners’ Cup. They were also the inaugural winners of the UEFA Cup in 1972, becoming the first British club to win two different major European trophies. They have collected at least one major trophy in each of the six decades from the 1950s to 2000s – an achievement only matched by Manchester United. In total, Spurs have won two league titles, eight FA Cups, four League Cups, seven FA Community Shields, one European Cup Winners’ Cup and two UEFA Cups.
The club’s Latin motto is Audere est Facere (“To Dare Is to Do”), and its emblem is a cockerel standing upon a football. The club has a long-standing rivalry with nearby club Arsenal, with head-to-head fixtures known as the North London derby.