Football
Dan Kilpatrick, Tottenham Correspondent 6y

Mauricio Pochettino, Hugo Lloris want Tottenham to enjoy Juventus game

LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino and Hugo Lloris want Tottenham to play with freedom and enjoy the occasion in Wednesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg against Juventus.

Spurs can progress to the quarterfinals with a goalless draw or a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium after scoring two away goals in the 2-2 draw in Turin three weeks ago.

But Pochettino, the Spurs manager, told his players to forget about the possible permutations and play to win against the Serie A champions.

"In front is a very good possibility but, in football, we know very well that first of all you need to deserve it," Pochettino said.

"We face tomorrow one of the best teams in the history of football, that played two Champions League finals in the last three years. It will be a fantastic battle. Only we need to give our best and don't think too much about the consequences of the result.

"Only we need to feel free. If we feel free, we are going to perform at our best. If we perform our best, we are going to have the possibility to win.

"I'm confident the team is mature enough, we're in very good enough form, I'm sure we're going to try to achieve big things until the end of the season if we follow this way."

Goalkeeper Lloris echoed his manager's message, warning his teammates against playing for a draw.

"I don't think in this way. We expect a tough game, another battle. We will start the game in the same way as usual," he said.

"The target is to win the game, enjoy our football, put the right energy with help of the crowd. It's the best way to enjoy this competition.

"If you think too much, play for a draw, especially against an experience like Juve, you can be in trouble. The best way is to start sharp as we're used to at home, and the best way is to enjoy it."

Juventus received a boost after Gonzalo Higuain trained with the squad on Tuesday morning having missed the last two matches with an ankle problem. Matteo De Sciglio also travelled to London after recovering from a knock, while Paulo Dybala, who missed the first leg, is fit after scoring a last-minute winner at Lazio on Saturday.

Pochettino compared his compatriots Higuain and Dybala to another Argentine, Lionel Messi, and said Spurs would have to stop two of the best forwards in the world on Wednesday.

"Higuain is one of the greatest strikers in the world, for me he's one of the best with Harry Kane," Pochettino said. "Sometimes it's not easy to stop him like Dybala or Messi, this type of player. But of course Juventus is a great team but also with all the players that we are going to play against tomorrow."

Italian football is still reeling from the sudden death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori, aged 31, on Sunday and there will be a minute's silence ahead of all Champions League matches this week.

Pochettino revealed that he had tried to sign Astori for Southampton in 2013, and both the manager and his captain paid tribute to the Italy international.

"I want to send my condolences to Davide Astori's family and all the people that love him," Pochettino said. "It's a massive tragedy. I met him five years ago, it was our idea to sign him for Southampton. I spent three hours with him at lunch. He was a great kid, a great professional, great player. We're devastated and we share the pain with all people in Italy, in Florence. I send all my energy to his family."

Lloris added: "We've been very affected by this tragic news. It's not only Italian football, it's the world of football that's affected. It's important in that moment to show solidarity and I think all our thoughts go to the family and friends of Astori."

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