Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has suggested that Europa League duties have disrupted Spurs' performances in the Premier League this season.

The north London club have fallen well behind the top four this term and Pochettino suggests it is down to them being preoccupied by their European obligations.

Pochettino said: "If you achieve the Europa League it might not be the dream of the club or the supporters but you need to play it because it is good for the financial side of the club.

"The most important thing is to be ambitious or to understand we need to try and build a strong team for next season to fight for the top four. It's very difficult to manage the Europa League with the Premier League and both cups. You spend a lot of energy when you play in the Europa League and it's not easy, but you never know.

"It's true the experience last season with Liverpool and now with Manchester United, I think it's a clear example that maybe you will have the opportunity to stay closer to reaching the top four if you only are focused on the Premier League and the cups."

Pochettino takes his sixth-placed Spurs to seventh-placed Southampton on Saturday.

If Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final, the seventh-placed team in the Premier League will also qualify for the Europa League.