Premier League: Mauricio Pochettino looking forward to facing Harry Redknapp

Mauricio Pochettino is looking forward to pitting his wits against former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp on Sunday.

Redknapp, who was sacked two years ago by Spurs, returns to White Hart Lane for the first time as manager of QPR and faces Pochettino with whom he shares a birthday. 

The 67-year-old's sacking brought to unceremonious end to what was the most successful period of Spurs' recent history, with Redknapp still the only man to have led the club into the Champions League.

Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood have since tried and failed, and former Southampton boss Pochettino is the latest man charged with bringing Champions League football back to White Hart Lane.

"I have full respect for him," The Tottenham boss said of the man 25 years his senior. "He was born on the same day as me, March 2, so he is a special person too like me.

"I know about Harry Redknapp, I have full respect for him and he, too, was the manager of Southampton and Tottenham."

The Argentinian takes charge of his first competitive home match fresh from wins at West Ham and AEL Limassol, yet the attractive, high-pressing football that he encouraged at Southampton has still to be replicated at Spurs.

"It is difficult to say how long you need, but in the beginning we try to put our style," Pochettino said.

"It is true that this was a difficult period, the start to pre-season because this year there was the World Cup and many players arrived late.

"It is always difficult to put in place and develop your style when you have players away, but we are happy at the moment we are looking forward."