Mauricio Pochettino warns Tottenham to expect a ‘tough game’ against Burnley

Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham side still have an outside chance of reaching the top-four. Bryn Lennon / Getty

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino fully expects Burnley to come out fighting in Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash against the relegation battlers at Turf Moor on Sunday.

Spurs currently sit seventh, but still harbour ambitions of breaking into the top four following a decent run before the international break.

The north London club are in need of points in their European quest - they are currently eight behind Manchester City in fourth- while Burnley are scrapping for their top-flight survival and could move out of the bottom three this weekend should results go their way.

“Sometimes it is difficult to play a team that is playing for nothing in the middle of the table - but this will be a tough game as Burnley are fighting to stay in the Premier League,” Pochettino said.

“It will be a very difficult pitch but we need to get the three points.

“They play in a very clear way, so we don’t expect them to change the way that they play.

“They are well organised, strong, run a lot, make a lot of effort and have a very clear idea of the way that they play under their philosophy.

“It is not easy for them to stay in the Premier League, but they have to give their all and fight in every game.

“They know they have the possibility to stay, so we need to go and give the best to try to win the three points.”

Midfielder Nacer Chadli is under no illusions of what challenge the players will face.

“Burnley will desperately want to win, but we too are going to fight for every ball because we need to get the three points to get into the top positions in the table,” the Belgian said.

“We need those three points as much as them.”

“We know they have quality, but we will try to exploit them to the maximum in all the areas we can.”

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