Gary Neville has praised Mauricio Pochettino for his work at Tottenham, saying that the Argentine has transformed the culture at White Hart Lane.
Spurs possess the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League this season and made it three wins on the bounce this past weekend with their emphatic 4-1 victory over Manchester City.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, the ex-Manchester United defender-turned-pundit praised Pochettino for rebuilding the side he inherited last year and shaping it to suit his philosophy Neville said:
When he [Pochettino] went into that club he will not have enjoyed what he saw. I think what he’s had to do in the last 12 to 18 months is knock the house down and try to rebuild it again. If you look at what he’s done, he’s transformed the team and definitely got a better bunch of lads
He added: “With Tottenham, the average age is 23 which is the youngest in the league and he’s not just transforming a team there, he’s transforming a culture. It’s a culture of being a bit flimsy. You’d never say they were the hardest-working team in the league. You’d say they’re a bit weak and he’s trying to transform that.
Neville also praised Pochettino for instilling a work ethic in the side, something that wasn’t apparent when he first took the reigns at White Hart Lane.
“At Southampton, Pochettino inherited a good bunch of players in terms of talent and work ethic. He absolutely didn’t at Tottenham. A lot of them, you couldn’t get them out of there quick enough,” he said. “Pochettino teams work damn hard and that’s not something that Tottenham have always done.
He had a bunch of players who had a poor work ethic, a poor attitude and didn’t have a lot of care for the club.
“He’s now got a bunch of players who have the core ingredients of what you need. Tottenham fans probably like their coach more and they like their players more.
“They might not be as good as some Tottenham teams but at least the foundations are back in place to grow from.
“I like what’s happening and I like the way they are going. Things are happening that are right. The foundations of the house are now being put in place.”
