Mauricio Pochettino says his friendship with Unai Emery was a factor in the signings of Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura as the Tottenham duo prepare to face their former manager in Sunday's north London derby.
Spurs met Emery's Paris Saint-Germain side during their preseason tour of the U.S. in July 2017 and took Aurier from the French club the next month, before returning to sign Lucas in January 2018.
"I remember we played in the USA, in Orlando, and he talked very highly about Lucas and Serge," said Pochettino, who got to know Emery -- now Arsenal's head coach -- during their time as managers in Spain.
"I was in contact with him [for a while beforehand]. Sometimes he asks me about some players or some teams, and us the same. There's contact between the coaching staff because we have a very good relationship between our coaching staff too.
"I remember one year ago in Bilbao, when we were at a congress, he asked me about England and of course I advised him, 'If you have the possibility to come, it's sure you are going to be right.' I think he knows where I'm living but until now I didn't find [him].
"Of course we're in different clubs and it's a derby we're going to play. In the moment we're going to compete, we're going to try to find the way to beat each other, but before and after the game we're always very good friends."
Pochettino feels it is normal to get on well with other managers, despite the pressure and inherent rivalry in their jobs.
The Spurs manager regularly shares a drink with his opposite number before or after facing them -- although he never did so with former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and does not plan to do so with Emery at the Emirates this weekend.
"It's not our culture," he said. "In Spain, it's not normal to invite each other to have a drink. I know if we win, he's not going to be happy or in the mood, and the same the other way.
"With a lot of managers we have drinks, in the manager's room after or before -- but [we didn't] with Arsene.
"I think with Mou [Jose Mourinho] we have a very good relationship, and with Pep [Guardiola], or Javi Gracia. With some you are closer than with others.
"I think it's more natural than you believe. We were two weeks ago in Barcelona in a football congress, 600 managers. When we were in Madrid it was the same and it was amazing to meet all together. It was so nice to have the possibility to talk between us and share experience."
Emery recommended Pochettino for the Valencia job when he vacated it in 2012, but Pochettino remained faithful to Espanyol and rejected the approach that followed -- a tale that will encourage Spurs fans as their manager's reputation continues to grow.
"I stayed at Espanyol and then I called Unai, who was in Spartak Moscow, and said 'thank you very much for recommending me,'" said Pochettino. "I chose to stay at Espanyol at the time. [I am] loyal.
"I didn't ask why [he recommended me], because if I ask he's going to say 'because you're good in this and this, but I think you need to improve this!'
"You need to say thank you and be grateful when a colleague -- and after someone who became a very good friend -- [does that]. It's not usual that a manager recommends another manager when he leaves the club."