Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 6y

Mauricio Pochettino not concerned by Tottenham's minor stadium delays

LONDON -- Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said he is not concerned about the possibility of starting next season with a block of away games to allow more time for the club's new stadium to be ready.

In a meeting with The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust (THST) last week, Daniel Levy said he was confident the project remained on schedule to open for the start of next season, despite a minor delay in installing the roof.

But Levy, Spurs' chairman, said they are likely to request a run of away games at the start of next term -- just as Liverpool, West Ham United and Blackpool have done previously.

"It's true that we need to wait because still there is nothing confirmed, but if we need to play maybe away from home for the first few games, that won't worry me," Pochettino said. "I still believe we can arrive on time at the stadium from the beginning. But if it's not possible, then of course, we are going to decide if we can play away from home. But it is so early to say anything because we need to see what is happening with our new stadium.

"The most important thing is for our fans, the team and everyone to be in a safe stadium. For me, that is the most important thing because then it is a stadium that will be there forever."

If Spurs play the first four fixtures away from home, which is the maximum the Premier League will allow, they would have until Sept. 15 -- after the first international break -- to get their new stadium fully ready.

Last season, Liverpool needed to start away because Anfield's new stand was still under construction and they did not play at home until Sept. 10, after the international break.

Similarly, West Ham could not start this season at home because the World Athletics Championships were being held at the London Stadium, so they began with three away league games and did not play at home until Sept. 11.

The first confirmed fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is on Oct. 14, when the Oakland Raiders host the Seattle Seahawks in the first NFL game in London next season. That begins Tottenham's 10-year agreement with the American league to host at least 20 games at their new home.

Spurs have been playing their home games at Wembley Stadium this season while their new home, which will cost more than £850 million, is being built.

They have the option to remain at the national stadium for another full year, and Levy insisted there have been no discussions about exercising that clause.

Under current Premier League rules, Spurs cannot play home games at two different stadiums in the same campaign.

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