‘Football is not theory’ – Mauricio Pochettino makes strange claim about APOEL Nicosia finishing above Spurs

Tottenham’s boss Mauricio Pochettino has strangely claimed that APOEL Nicosia have the ability to finish above them in their Champions’ League group.

Spurs’ Cypriot league rivals are the lowest ranked team in a Group H which also contains current holders Real Madrid and the London club’s Wednesday night opponents Borussia Dortmund.

It is expected to be a tough competition for Tottenham and Pochettino has suggested that Madrid are most likely to finish on top, but has made a strange claimed that APOEL are within a shot of beating his side and Dortmund to the runners-up spot.

The Argentine boss as quoted by Yahoo Sport journalist Ben Pearce on his personal Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon said: “It’s true in theory it’s Real first and then Tottenham, Dortmund and APOEL compete to be second. But football is not theory.”

APOEL haven’t even qualify for the group stages of the Champions League in the last two seasons having dropped out at the play-offs both occasions and I see them nowhere near the quality that the North London club or any of their other Group H rivals boast ahead of Wednesday’s opening round of fixtures.

Writer’s digest

In hindsight, there’s no way Spurs boss can seriously think that APOEL have a chance of challenging his side in the group stages this season. Though, his side performance at Wembley lately has not been impressive, but it isn’t that bad. The Cypriot side would have to get results against Dortmund as well if they wanted to come anywhere near second place and that just seems outrageous.

Spurs’ best hope in their group is definitely second place. The German side have a lot of injuries and are definitely beatable. Four points against them and a further six against APOEL should be enough see the Londoners into the knock out rounds.