Patrick Barclay: Pochettino can show how good he is when the world tunes in for Klopp’s debut

Big stage: Can the Spurs boss shine with all eyes on Klopp?
Patrick Barclay15 October 2015

What is it White Hart Lane calls itself? World-famous home of the Spurs. Yet Tottenham fans could be wondering if the atmospheric old place has been reduced to a mere venue for the momentous event due to be provided by the visitors at lunchtime on Saturday, and they to the status of lucky witnesses.

I refer, of course, to the first match of Jurgen Klopp’s reign as Liverpool manager.

This is not to deny the potential in a relationship between a very significant club and an extremely charismatic leader. It’s just to point out that there will be two teams involved and that Spurs are entitled to return from yet another international break — can the Premier League ever have endured such a staccato season? — in a state of some excitement of their own.

They did, after all, treat the Lane to a 4-1 victory over Manchester City last time out. And before that a lone goal by Son Heung-Min had beaten Crystal Palace, who don’t lose many away from Selhurst Park and had already conquered Chelsea — rather emphatically — at Stamford Bridge.

So, while Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t command a stage, or the English language, quite like Klopp or Jose Mourinho, there can be cautious optimism that he is about to be recognised for an attribute shared with those notables: an ability to produce the high-energy, high-concentration football that tends to bring success.

And what an opportunity Saturday offers, with much of the football world watching, to underline it.

The pity is that Eric Dier, so influential in the midfield-anchor role where England have struggled since Owen Hargreaves, misses out through suspension, but the possible return of Ryan Mason could compensate.

Ranking Tottenham's summer signings so far

1/6

Spurs have a lot of able players of an age that suggests they can develop together and, with Harry Kane in no hurry to leave, I’d rate the club’s prospects higher than for quite a few years. Let the evidence mount.

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