Mauricio Pochettino has asserted that Tottenham Hotspur are ready for “a fantastic battle” when they lock horns with Juventus on Wednesday.

Spurs are in control of their Champions League last-16 tie with Juve, having salvaged a 2-2 draw away from home in the first leg, and Pochettino was in high spirits ahead of the return at Wembley.

“I want to send my condolences to the Astori family and all the people who love him,” the Coach said at a Press conference.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said Napoli “play the most beautiful football in Europe,” but won’t underestimate Juventus.

Spurs fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Juve in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie, and the Bianconeri are battling Napoli for the Serie A title.

“Napoli can win the Scudetto,” Pochettino told Radio CRC.

“Maurizio Sarri’s side play the most beautiful football in Europe and whenever I get the chance, I always like to watch the Azzurri games.

The English media were in buoyant mood this morning after Tottenham Hotspur fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Juventus.

The back page of the Daily Express leads with “Turin Proud”, a pun on the famous Turin Shroud.

“Make no mistake, this was a richly deserved result for the visitors” said the Guardian’s David Hynter, noting that Spurs had passed “the ultimate test of their character”.

Mauricio Pochettino told Italian and English television that Tottenham “dominated Juventus for most” of their 2-2 Champions League draw.

Gonzalo Higuain had put the Bianconeri 2-0 up within 10 minutes, but Harry Kane pulled one back and after Pipita’s missed penalty, Christian Eriksen fired in a free kick.

“We dominated Juve for most of the game, playing our style of football,” the tactician told Mediaset Premium in Italy.

Mauricio Pochettino concedes Juventus “are one of the best teams in the world, but Tottenham are going to be aggressive, brave and try to win.”

The first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 kicks off in Turin at 19.45 GMT.

“We are going to be aggressive, brave and try to win,” the Spurs Coach told the official Tottenham website.

Juventus will reportedly return to 4-2-3-1 for tonight’s Tottenham Hotspur game, matching up with the English side.

The Bianconeri have been playing with a 4-3-3 in recent weeks, but operated with a 4-2-3-1 system for the second half of last season.

With Blaise Matuidi out injured, it was reported that Rodrigo Bentancur would take his place, but Coach Massimiliano Allegri hinted yesterday he could change the shape.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino was made an honorary citizen of Virle Piemonte yesterday, as it's his ancestral family home.

Spurs are in Italy for tonight’s Champions League Last 16 first leg against Juventus, and the Argentine can trace his family roots back to Italy.

Pochettino’s great-grandfather left northern Italy in 1867 to seek a new life in South America, and now his ancestor has been made an honorary citizen.

Max Allegri believes Juventus have “more self-esteem” in the Champions League, and his team against Tottenham will “depend on how I feel when I wake up”.

The Bianconeri have reached the final of the competition twice in the last three years, and face Spurs in the first leg of their Last 16 tie tomorrow.

“Obviously I’d be glad not to concede, to end up with a clean sheet,” Allegri said in his pre-match Press conference.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino admits “we cannot compare with Juventus, they’ve won everything”.

The English side are in Turin to take on the Old Lady in the Champions League Last 16 first leg, and the former defender was asked in his pre-match Press conference if the sides are on the same level.



“I think Juventus is a massive club, a massive club,” Pochettino replied.

As Juventus prepare to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Tuesday, Football Italia gets the lowdown on the opposition.

Words: Tom Scholes

This Tuesday, Serie A champions Juventus play host to last season’s Premier League runners up Tottenham Hotspur in Turin with both sides eager to make a big impression in the latter stages of the Champions League, albeit for different reasons.