I Am Happy For Fernando Llorente – Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino has said Tottenham’s plan to wrestle the EPL title from wealthier rivals is similar to Fernando Alonso’s attempt to win the Formula One crown with McLaren.

His words, “When you work in football, it’s because you want to win,” he said. “It’s easy to be passionate and shout, ‘I’m a winner!’ but no, no, no. You can be a winner, but if you don’t have the tools to win, it’s difficult.

“If you have the car to win and you’re good, then you win. If you have the same car as another who is good, then one is going to win and the other is going to lose.

“Take the example of Fernando Alonso and compare with Hamilton. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are the best drivers in Formula One. But if you put Hamilton in McLaren last season and Alonso in Mercedes, it’s the same history [with where the cars would have finished] — Hamilton on the bottom and Alonso on the top. That’s the reality. Where did Alonso finish last season with McLaren?

“I follow Formula One. I love McLaren, but it wasn’t competitive last season. That’s the reality, no? But do you think that’s a problem with Alonso or a problem with the car?

“It happens also that you have an amazing car but you crash after the first bend. You can crash too with an amazing car and not win. For me, that’s a very good example.”

Fernando Llorente is set to be lead striker against Newcastle on Saturday, having scored the late winner in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Watford.

He said, “I was so happy for him because it’s not easy to be behind a player like Harry Kane, waiting for your opportunity,” said Pochettino. “Then when you get the opportunity everyone’s expecting you to score three goals every game, and that in every single action you will be right and successful.

“It’s not fair sometimes how we judge players who do not play too much and don’t feel that confidence. He’s building his confidence all the time and this is a massive boost for him.”