Mauricio Pochettino has said Spurs are title contenders this season as the Chelsea coach prepares to return to his former club for the first time.
Chelsea face Tottenham in a London derby on Monday evening, with Pochettino set to return to the club where he spent five-and-a-half years as a manager.
Pochettino led Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019 before departing, with Spurs having struggled to replicate those performances since his exit.
However, Spurs are top of the Premier League table after a brilliant start to the campaign under new manager Ange Postecoglou, and Pochettino believes his old side are in title contention.
“Yes I think so. They are doing a fantastic job,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“You feel they can be a contender. It is early in the season but they are showing the quality to be a contender.”
On whether there are similarities between Postecoglou’s impact and his own reign at Spurs, Pochettino said: “I don’t know really well him but I am happy for him and the club. Like you say, we cannot forget all that happened there. It is normal. We are very positive people and grateful people. We keep these links and happy when the club is doing well.”
Spurs are unbeaten in the Premier League this season and Pochettino is preparing for a difficult test for his inexperienced Chelsea side.
“You cannot underestimate the opponent. Our mentality is to see in which area we can improve. Really tough opponent.”
