Pochettino: I'm the person to face difficulties; Liverpool clash not a big test

After reaching the Champions League final in May, Tottenham have stuttered at the start of this season. But as he told Sky Sports' Laura Woods, Mauricio Pochettino is remaining calm under increasing pressure.

He told Woods: "I am more relaxed and more calm than I was five years ago. I am a coach and a person that doesn't really feel the pressure or the stress. I love to have different experiences in my life and of course, if you win, it is easier but when you don't win, you need to stay calm and show the balance too.

"This is a situation we use to learn and improve, and to enjoy too, because it is football and the drama of football is not the drama of life, that is why we feel very responsible. We care a lot about our job, the football club and our fans but most importantly, it is a game.

"We cannot relate the pressure to the players, we cannot create an environment that they don't feel comfortable in. We always need to help them to be in an environment that can provide calmness, be together always because when we need them to perform in the best way, they can, only if they feel freedom and not the pressure.

"I feel great because you always need to be optimistic when you face problems. You have to be positive, it is the only way that you can change things.

"If you are not optimistic and you are negative, it is better to put the white flag up but I am not a person like this. I am a person who loves to face the problems and try to find a way to fix that.

"We are a group of people who love to face the problems and to behave the same and natural, that is the most important thing. We are all here to try to compete and to try to win but even when you don't, you have to be positive and be strong with your ideas and your principles."

Champions League final re-match

The task does not get any easier on Sunday, as they take on Liverpool - who beat them in the Champions League final five months ago.

But ever the optimist, Pochettino is relishing a trip to Anfield and will be cherishing every moment of the encounter.

"I don't believe it's a big test," he said. "Of course, it is going to be difficult. Liverpool are having a fantastic season, last season they were very close in the Premier League with Man City, they won the Champions League final against us and I think they're doing a fantastic job.

"Jurgen Klopp is a fantastic guy, I admire him and we have a great relationship. It is great to meet him and play against a team like Liverpool that have unbelievable players.

"For me, it is a joy to go there and the motivation is there is there to play in a stadium like Anfield - it always is amazing. When you have the opportunity to play this kind of game, you are thankful because you never know if you are going to have the opportunity to play it again."