TOTTENHAM head coach Mauricio Pochettino has had a change of heart on the Europa League ahead of his managerial debut in continental competition tonight.

The former Argentina international took over the reins at White Hart Lane in May, signing a five-year deal having last season led Southampton to their best ever Premier League finish.

So impressive were Saints, in fact, that the prospect of Europa League football looked a genuine possibility as the season entered the home straight.

That was a prospect Pochettino was far than enamoured with, though, calling it a “competition for teams that are not good enough to be playing with the best” and warning that it could “kill” teams’ league hopes.

The former defender made those comments just six months ago, but dramatically changed tack on the eve of Tottenham’s Europa League play-off against AEL Limassol thanks in no small part to the competition’s restructuring.

“The Europa League is now a different competition,” Pochettino said.

“Why? Well, if you won it last year you basically got nothing. Just a trophy.

“Now the Europa League gives you the opportunity to play in the Champions League. That is a big challenge for us.”

The Cypriot runners-up started this campaign with a 1-0 home win against a Zenit St Petersburg side managed by former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, only to lose that Champions League third qualifying tie 3-1 on aggregate.