When Mauricio Pochettino first set foot in White Hart Lane, the future Tottenham Hotspur manager was struck by the simple message emblazoned all around the middle tier of the stadium.
“To Dare is to Do”, translated from the latin “Audere Est Facere”, has been Tottenham’s motto since long before Pochettino arrived in North London, but it serves as the perfect summary of the team’s mission statement under the highly driven Argentine.
Although Pochettino left the Lane that afternoon in March 2014 frustrated after his Southampton side slumped to a 3-2 defeat, the young manager’s first encounter with the slogan which resonated so much would foreshadow greater things to come.
Just two months after that, Pochettino was announced as Tottenham’s new manager and only two years later he already has his club positioned to try to end their long wait to be crowned English champions.
Tottenham's dashing 2-1 win at title rivals Manchester City on Sunday moved them within two points of Premier League leaders Leicester City with 12 games remaining, prompting Pochettino to admit fans were right to start dreaming of a first top-flight title since 1961.
To come within touching distance of emulating the heroics of Bill Nicholson’s team, who boasted Tottenham greats Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones and Bobby Smith, Pochettino has infused a club for so long derided as serial underachievers with a genuine belief they can beat anyone and the results have been remarkable.
At the start of the season, few outside the Tottenham dressing room expected more than a challenge for a top four place from a club whose last major trophy was the 2008 League Cup.
But those doubters missed the quiet revolution masterminded by the softly-spoken Pochettino at Tottenham’s new training headquarters in the North London suburb of Enfield.
It is at that state-of-the-art facility where the 43-year-old former Argentina international has drilled his players to master his relentless, high-tempo pressing game that wears opponents down, while convincing them to buy into his team-first ethos.
Read more: Richard Jolly on how Spurs took the steam out of Manchester City's title dreams
Also see: Thomas Woods on how Danny Welbeck crucially gives Arsenal another Olivier Giroud for title chase
After making his name in the Premier League by turning Southampton’s crop of young English players from prodigies with potential to top-level stars, Pochettino has achieved a similar feat with Tottenham.
Enthused by their manager’s confidence and given a road map to success by his tactical knowledge, the likes of Harry Kane, 22, Dele Alli, 19, and Eric Dier, 22, have developed into England internationals.
Kane’s predatory finishing has been key to Tottenham’s success, but the composure and class of Belgium defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld has also been crucial in providing a solid foundation for the youngsters to thrive.
Pochettino’s side have been beaten only three times in the league this season and boast the division’s best defensive record, with just 20 goals conceded from 26 games.
Alderweireld, signed by Pochettino from Atletico Madrid after he had impressed on loan at Southampton last year, has been rock solid at the heart of Tottenham’s defence and the 26-year-old feels the organisation of the team is key to their success.
“We feel if we work very hard, with everyone doing their job, we can beat any team,” he said.
“It is not arrogance – we don’t have arrogance, we just have confidence, and that is the difference.
“In every game this season we have had good organisation, and even when things are not going the way you want, you can fall back on that organisation.
“Then try to go up front and make a goal, like we did against City.
“We have a good team that sticks together, and that is important.”
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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
Pathaan
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Brief scoreline:
Burnley 3
Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'
Southampton 3
Man of the match
Ashley Barnes (Burnley)
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The Bio
Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
The%20specs
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Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
CHELSEA'S NEXT FIVE GAMES
Mar 10: Norwich(A)
Mar 13: Newcastle(H)
Mar 16: Lille(A)
Mar 19: Middlesbrough(A)
Apr 2: Brentford(H)