Tottenham need to start to think like a “big club” and focus on themselves rather than their rivals Arsenal, according to manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Spurs are on course to secure their best ever finish in the Premier League era but suffered a 2-1 defeat to Southampton at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts, who were still in the title race prior to Monday’s draw with Chelsea, began brightly and took the lead through Heung-min Son’s composed finish.
But Ronald Koeman’s side rallied and secured a crucial victory courtesy of a Steven Davis brace.
Tottenham’s defeat has left the door ajar for Arsenal to pip them to second place after the Gunners’ 2-2 draw at Manchester City, but Pochettino is adamant Spurs must alter their mentality and not concern themselves with what is happening at the Emirates.
Spurs haven’t finished above Arsenal during Arsene Wenger’s reign but Pochettino does not care about where the Gunners place this season, insisting the focus is on his own team’s development.
“I don’t care about Arsenal. I want to win the league and be on the top,” Pochettino said. “Sure I want to be above them, this is normal, no? Why do I have to clarify that?
“I don’t know what happened in the past because I was not here. But there is too much worrying about Arsenal. We need to spend our energy on winning games like today. I don’t care about opponents.
“To try to improve and be bigger we need to look at us and not care what happens with our neighbours. Certain players we have need to move on and improve.”
“The last few weeks have been tough, [but] we are still in a great position and if we look back to the start of the season we all should be proud.
“We need to look at ourselves, not at our neighbour,” he added.
“We need to start to think like a big club, not worrying about what’s happening in another house.
“We still need to learn a lot of things – we need to keep improving into next season.
“We need to change that mentality, to be strong and this what we need to change to be a big, big, big club,” Pochettino insisted.
Spurs travel to Newcastle on the final day of the season and know a point against Rafa Benitez’s is likely to be enough to ensure they finish above Arsenal for the first time since 1995.
The Gunners who are two points adrift of Spurs, meanwhile, face Aston Villa at home.
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