unconcerned over reports linking defender Toby
Alderweireld with Inter.
The Serie A club have ambitious plans in the
transfer market under their owners the Suning
Group for the forthcoming close-season and Sky
Italia reported they were ready to meet a
£25million release clause in Alderweireld's
contract at White Hart Lane.
Alderweireld's current deal runs until 2020 and the
28-year-old has formed an impressive defensive
alliance with Belgium colleague Jan Vertonghen,
with Spurs enjoying an excellent season and
preparing to face Premier League title rivals
Chelsea in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at
Wembley.
Speaking at a media conference ahead of that
match, Pochettino insisted he was unconcerned
about speculation surrounding Alderweireld or any
of his key players.
"If some clubs are interested in some players it is
very clear you need to knock on the door of
[Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy," he said.
"If any player is going to leave the club it is always
our decision, the club's decision.
"All the players today have contracts for the next
two or three years, minimum, and we're not
worried.
"I invite all the clubs that want players
from Tottenham to come to the training ground and
visit our chairman Daniel Levy.
"[Alderweireld] is playing and it is his second
season with the club. I don't think anybody has
any doubts about Toby."
Alderweireld himself seemed fully committed to the
cause in an interview with the Evening Standard,
where he professed his belief that this Tottenham
squad is destined to win major silverware.
"With this team, and with the people working for it,
we will get a trophy — 100 per cent," he said.
"If it is not this season, then it will be the one after.
We will do everything we can to make it happen
this season.
"Sometimes it is all about details. Last season we
didn't win the league but we kept going. This
season we already have 71 points — one more
than we got in the whole of last season.
"Even with the disappointment of last season we
have kept fighting, and this season we are in an
even better position. Regardless of what happens
during the rest of this season, we have to keep
improving and get better for next season as well.
"The desire to achieve something and to get better,
as a young group, is there. We want to play better
than we did last season. We want to become
better. It says a lot about the mental strength of
the team."
Spurs will again be without Danny Rose (knee)
when they take on Chelsea, with Pochettino feeling
the England left-back is more likely to return for
next weekend's north London derby at home to
Arsenal, as opposed to another all-capital
encounter at Crystal Palace in midweek.
"Arsenal, maybe. For Saturday, no," he added.
"He's okay, he's doing well, he's still not with the
group but he's at a very good level."
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