Mauricio Pochettino has warned his
Tottenham Hotspur stars that they must make a fast start to their Champions
League campaign or risk another early exit.
Pochettino’s side failed to make it past the group stage of
Europe’s elite club competition last season.
Tottenham’s downfall was triggered by poor results in their
home games at Wembley, where they were beaten by Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen.
The north London club are back at Wembley this season while
White Hart Lane is being redeveloped and they kick off their Champions League
group fixtures against Borussia Dortmund at the national stadium on Wednesday.
Keen to avoid another disappointing European adventure,
Tottenham manager Pochettino has underlined to his players that getting off to
a winning start is vital, especially with holders Real Madrid also in Group H.
“Last season, after the first game at home against Monaco, it
was difficult to change the dynamic. I think it’s so important to try to win
the first game and get three points,” Pochettino said.
“It will be tough because Dortmund is a great, great team but
in our mind our mentality is to try to win and be aggressive from the first
ball.
“I think tomorrow is such an important game. To start well in
the competition and get three points will be key to the future of course.
“It’s true that in theory Real Madrid are first, then
Dortmund, Tottenham and APOEL compete to be second. That’s the theory but
football is not theory.”
Tottenham have struggled at Wembley in recent years even when
they aren’t playing European games.
Losers in eight of their last 12 matches at the hallowed
venue, Spurs have been beaten by Chelsea and drawn with Burnley in their two
games there this season.
Pochettino hopes Tottenham’s players can block out all talk
of a Wembley curse and show they have learnt from last year’s harsh Champions
League lessons.
“It’s a tough competition with the amount of focus and energy
you need, it’s massive, maybe the same or more than the Premier League,” he
said.
“Last season was our first experience of the Champions
League. Previously we played in the Europa League, for 98 or 99 percent of the
players, and for myself too.
“We know very well what the competition demands from you, and
I think it is so important, that experience from last season.
“It was a very painful experience because we could not be at
the level we should have been, but today it’s not an excuse.
“We need to be ready to compete at a higher level.”
Pochettino hinted he could hand a debut to right-back Serge
Aurier, a recent signing from Paris Saint-Germain, but Dele Alli is suspended
after a red card in the Europa League last season.
Tottenham striker Harry Kane expects his team to hold their
own against the Germans, even without star midfielder Alli.
“He’s a fantastic player and we will miss him. But
fortunately we have a fantastic squad and I’m sure whoever comes in will be
ready to compete on the big stage,” Kane said.
“Last year we got off to a bad start. We’ve got to make sure
we win our home games because going away in the Champions League is always
going to be difficult, no matter who you play.”
Dortmund beat Tottenham twice in the Europa League in 2015-16,
but they travel to London hampered by injuries to several stars.
Beaten at Wembley by Bayern Munich in the 2013 Champions
League final, Dortmund hope to make it another miserable night for Tottenham in
their adopted home.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge, but I see ourselves as
being on the same level as Tottenham,” said Dortmund sporting director Michael
Zorc.
