David Wagner says Huddersfield head to Wembley for Tottenham clash with 'positive memories'
Thursday 1 March 2018 14:47, UK
David Wagner says his Huddersfield side will head to Wembley with "only unbelievably positive memories" ahead of their Premier League meeting with Tottenham.
The Terriers are looking to secure a third consecutive Premier League victory when they face Mauricio Pochettino's in-form side, as they return to the scene of their Championship play-off final victory against Reading last season.
Wagner, whose side lost 4-0 in September's reverse fixture, will aim to become only the second team to beat Spurs at Wembley in the Premier League this term and move further away from the relegation zone.
When asked about the challenge facing his side, Wagner said: "It's a great occasion. We only have unbelievably great memories about Wembley - it's less than a year ago that we had one of the most successful days in the club's history.
"Now we are back. If you have positive memories then it can help you. It's great to be back at Wembley in a competitive game. The problem is it is against Tottenham - one of the best teams in the Premier League or maybe in the World.
Trending
- Papers: Gravenberch set to stay at Liverpool amid Real Madrid links
- Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Saudi could offer Rashford way out of Man Utd'
- Gabriel Jesus is back! Hat-trick for Arsenal striker sinks Palace
- Nunez and Elliott strike as Liverpool battle past Southampton
- Hits and misses: Jesus, Elliott and Tonali all shine in Carabao Cup
- Man Utd latest: Rashford has not travelled for Carabao Cup tie - reports
- Italian job! Tonali brace inspires Newcastle past Brentford
- Vasseur: Convincing Hamilton to join Ferrari not difficult at all
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Start time, ring walks, undercard and odds
- World Darts Championship schedule: Smith in action on Thursday
"We will fight for every single yard and sometimes surprises happen in football."
Harry Kane scored twice in the heavy defeat earlier this season and the league's top goal scorer has struck in each of his last five appearances.
When asked whether Harry Kane is the best striker in Europe, Wagner said: "At the moment I think he is. He is a fantastic striker - unfortunately not in our team!
"This is one of the reasons why this Premier League is so exciting is that there are players like him.
"You can really test yourself against the best ones but Tottenham is not just him there are a handful of other great individuals.
"We have our players, our strikers - [Steve] Mounie and [Laurent] Depoitre - who we are very happy with. They have helped us and will continue to help us, hopefully on Sunday, to be successful."
Huddersfield have won three of their last four matches in all competitions and their only defeat came against Manchester United in the FA Cup last month and Wagner is focused on building on their "positive momentum".
"Of course everybody is excited about it that we are able to meet them in a positive momentum, which we have at the minute after the last games that we have played well in and scored goals.
"At the end we have to make sure that we performance again and that we show exactly the same desire and passion which we have shown in the past even if we do not get the result that we hope for - like against Manchester United.
"We still felt as if we had the momentum because we performed at a very good level and this is where our focus is at for Saturday."
Wagner's counterpart Pochettino has led Tottenham to the last-16 of the Champions League and the German boss is impressed by the job he is performing at the north London club and in his previous posts.
"It is top class what he has shown in his career so far. [He is] someone who has made some very interesting decisions and steps in his career.
"Everything he has done so far has seen progression. In terms of the players and teams he has worked with. He has shown us in the first game what a great group of players he has brought together."