Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen has talked up the importance of manager Mauricio Pochettino amid growing uncertainty over the Argentine's future at the club.
A number of recent comments from Pochettino have suggested that he is not guaranteed to be at the club next term, despite steering Spurs into the Champions League in each of the past three seasons.
Pochettino's future could well hinge on upcoming talks with chairman Daniel Levy regarding the transfer budget which will be available to him, although Eriksen insists that he is not worried about the prospect of the manager leaving due to his loyalty to the club.
"He's really important. You can see what he has achieved with this club. When I arrived [in summer 2013], there was a season with a lot of ups and downs at first but ever since [Pochettino joined a year later] it's really been very stable — finishing in the top three is a big achievement for the manager," Eriksen told the Evening Standard.
"He can have a big pat on his shoulders for the people around him and for him. He's pushed us and the players in the right direction. We're going into every game and winning games with the right mentality with exciting football. The fans in particular, I hope, enjoy how we play. I enjoy how we play under the manager. I think the style of play is something that suits me and the players we have. Generally, you're going into every game with excitement.
"You know you're going to play forward and not going to defend. You're going to try to create and score goals. Everybody who follows the Premier League knows we have been consistent with the points we've got. Finishing three times in the top three means a lot and it's a big achievement compared to where the club were six years ago. He showed he's a Spurs man."
Pochettino has most recently been linked with a move across London to rivals Chelsea.
Barney Corkhill
