Skip to content

Mauricio Pochettino insists Burnley can qualify for the Champions League

Mauricio Pochettino looks on during Tottenham's defeat to Man City
Image: Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino believes Burnley can reach the Champions League

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino believes Burnley can upset the odds and qualify for the Champions League.

Seventh-placed Spurs travel to Turf Moor on Saturday with the Clarets a point and a place better off after an impressive first half to the campaign.

LISTEN: Transfer Talk podcast
LISTEN: Transfer Talk podcast

Click here to listen to the latest Transfer Talk podcast where the futures of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Virgil van Dijk, Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho were discussed

Sean Dyche's side can move level on points with fourth-place Liverpool if they defeat Spurs at home and Pochettino has warned his players not to underestimate their opponents this weekend.

When asked if the Clarets could secure a top-four finish, Pochettino said: "Of course.

Scott Arfield celebrates after scoring late in the first half
Image: Burnley can move level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool if they beat Spurs at Turf Moor

"Look, two years ago, Leicester can win the Premier League and, in the end, they won the Premier League. In football, all can happen. And of course they are doing so well.

"It will be tough because they are competing with big sides and so are we, but in football, all can happen."

Burnley have taken 19 points from the last possible 27 and while their impressive results have surprised many people in the game, Pochettino insists he is not one of them.

Also See:

"They are so tough, such a physical team," added Pochettino, who saw his side concede an injury-time equaliser when the clubs met at Wembley in August.

Sean Dyche during the Premier League match between Brighton and Burnley
Image: Sean Dyche's side have lost just two of their last nine games

"They play simple but it's difficult sometimes to play simple as well as they do.

"We need to be ready to fight because they are such athletic players, tough players and they manage the long ball so well with two or three strikers that are so big and the second ball.

"It doesn't surprise me that they are doing so well because they have good quality."

Around Sky