Wembley “home’’ no advantage for Spurs against Manchester United, Pochettino says
Cup
London, April 19, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino insists that his team will gain no advantage by playing Saturday’s English FA Cup semi-final match against Manchester United at their temporary Wembley Stadium home.
Spurs have turned Wembley into a fortress, suffering just two English Premier League defeats there all season, and beating Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.
The London club are using the national stadium this season while their new 61,500-seater stadium is being built.
Defender Jan Vertonghen suggested Spurs can benefit from their familiarity with the stadium, but Pochettino said Jose Mourinho’s side have plenty of experience of their own at the venue.
“Of course, we feel at home,” he told a news conference on Thursday. “But it’s different to when we play in the English Premier League.
“I don’t believe (we will have an advantage) because Manchester United have the experience (of playing) at Wembley, too. It’s not an event just for us.
“I think it will be a typical Cup game at Wembley — half Tottenham and half Manchester United. I don’t believe we are going to have some advantage for that.”
It will be Manchester United’s 29th appearance in an English FA Cup semi-final, with their most recent win in the competition coming in 2016.
Tottenham, who last lifted the trophy in 1991, have suffered defeats in each of their last seven semi-finals in the competition.
Pochettino confirmed he had yet to make a decision on who would start in goal against Manchester United.
Dutch goalkeeper Michel Vorm has started in every round of the competition so far this season and could be expected to feature again.
Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has come under scrutiny for a reckless lunge on Raheem Sterling which handed Manchester City a penalty in Spurs’ 3-1 English Premier League defeat last weekend.
“For me it wasn’t a mistake, but I respect all opinions,” Pochettino added.
“No doubt, he is one of the best goalkeepers and he has shown that over the last four years with us. For us always, every season (he) was improving and I think we have luck to have Hugo Lloris in goal.”(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)