Pochettino: I will never go to Barca or Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricia Pochettino has rubbished rumours linking him to the managerial position at Barcelona, the club website reports.

Pochettino admitted that warm feelings for Barca’s city rivals Espanyol forbid him to make such a switch and has also added Arsenal to the list of clubs he would never manage.

Tottenham Hotspur have undergone complete transformation under Pochettino since the arrival in 2014, with the club rising from a regular top-four contender to authentic title-challenger.

“I’m an Espanyol supporter. If Daniel Levy sacked me in a few years, it would be impossible to manage Barcelona.” He said. “In football it is difficult to keep values like loyalty but to me loyalty and honesty come before being a manager or a player.

“I am an Espanyol fan and I love Espanyol. Now I am at Tottenham, would be impossible for me to move to Arsenal one day.”

Pochettino also expressed his support for star player Erik Lamela who is scheduled to undergo surgery for a season-ending hip problem later this week.

 “It’s an important time for him and for us to give him our love and support.” he said. “We need to only see the person, not the player. The human being is the most important thing.

“We wish him all the best for Saturday and we will support and help him to be available and with us as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile Spurs will travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on Saturday. Apart from Lamela, Pochettino will miss the services of Harry Kane and Danny Rose. Striker Vincent Jansen is also a doubt for the match.