Pochettino: Spurs don’t need to change

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Mauricio Pochettino has insisted Tottenham will not need to change the way they play following the recent signing of Lucas Moura.

The Brazilian winger, 25, completed a move to the club from Paris St-Germain ahead of this week’s transfer deadline.

Boss Pochettino was asked at a press conference on Friday whether a change of style might be needed given that the new arrival is different to other players in the Spurs squad.

Pochettino said: “No. I think we have different options to play and during the game to change.

“It’s important for the team (to have) different characteristics and different qualities from players, but it’s not going to change our philosophy – that is so strong.

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“I think he is going to make the effort to adapt himself. It’s a player who can adapt to our philosophy and to play our way.

“My expectation is that the player can help us in the next three months.

“But we cannot put too much pressure on him. He needs to adapt himself, needs to know the players and the Premier League.

“We hope that his adaptation will be fast. His expectation is to try to help the team as soon as possible.”

Fifth-placed Spurs face Liverpool this weekend, having beaten Manchester United 2-0 at Wembley on Wednesday.

It left them just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and underlined Pochettino’s belief that they are steadily improving despite not being serious title challengers this season.

“I think we’ve improved a lot in the last few seasons,” he said.

“I think the team is more mature, more experienced. I think we are stronger in different aspects of the evolution.

“We are improving every season, but maybe still it’s not enough because the gap to Manchester City at the top is massive and it is difficult to win the Premier League.

“But of course we are improving. This is clear that we are improving every season.

“The team is stronger mentally than last season and the previous season.”