Pochettino focused on building Chelsea's future ahead of 'exciting' return to Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino admits his first return to Tottenham Hotspur will be an "exciting moment", although the Chelsea manager insists his focus is on building a successful future with his new club.

Tottenham enjoyed their most successful period in recent years during Pochettino's four seasons as manager, with the Argentine guiding the North London club to the Champions League final and three straight top-four Premier League finishes, including a title challenge in 2016/17.

Pochettino was sacked by Spurs after a disappointing start to the 2019/20 season, just five months after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the European Cup final, and on Monday will be reunited with his former club and its fans for the first time when he takes Chelsea to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

"It is true we didn’t get to say goodbye, because in the moment that we left the club, it was also a difficult situation, a difficult moment," Pochettino said. "Now is the opportunity to go back and see many people that are still working there. It is going to be an exciting moment.

"It’s strange to go back because of the feelings after four years. For me, it’s going to be a happy day, but that is life and we need to move on. We are professionals about football but at the same time, we are human. We are people and we feel, it’s normal. We cannot forget, that is how we build our history."

Pochettino's return to Tottenham comes at a time when the club are enjoying a superb start to a new era of their own under Ange Postecoglou, who has led Spurs to eight wins and two draws in his first 10 league games. The Australian's is the best start to Premier League management in the history of the competition.

"Ange and all the coaching staff that I know very well, they are