Spurs boss Pochettino says Liverpool are favourites for Champions League final because they have spent loads of money
TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino insists Liverpool’s superior financial backing makes them favorites in the Champions League final.
The two Premier League sides clash in Madrid next Saturday having both come through the most dramatic of semi-final victories to book their place in Spain.
Liverpool turned round a 3-0 first leg defeat against Barcelona to hammer four at Anfield, while Lucas Moura’s last minute winner at Ajax meant Spurs progressed through on away goals.
Despite equally impressive semi-final victories, Spurs manager Pochettino is adamant Prem runners up and five-time Champions League winners Liverpool are favourites next Saturday.
He said: “Liverpool are the favourites as they have invested lots of money.
“Liverpool’s plan was to win the Premier League and the Champions League. Tottenham’s plan was to have the best season in our history.
“My future doesn’t depend on the result of the final.
“It’s a five-year project where the objective was to put Tottenham at the highest level in the world and play in the Champions League one year after the stadium was finished, and we’ve now been playing in it for three years.
“It’s important to know what the president and owner think for the future. It’s fundamental to know our objective.
“Our plan wasn’t to win the Champions League even though it sounds tough, our plan was to finish the stadium.”
Liverpool have splashed the cash under Jurgen Klopp’s reign, spending a record £75million for defender Virgil van Dijk, £67m for stopper Alisson and a further £48m on midfielder Naby Keita.
Along with current stars Fabinho, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Andrew Robertson, Klopp has spent £369m since summer 2017.
Spurs heavily contrast, having not signed a player since paying PSG £25m for semi-final hero Moura in January 2018.
With the club investing in a new 62,000 capacity ground, called the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Pochetino has been deprived of transfer funds.