Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has stepped back from suggestions he could never manage Barcelona because of his allegiances to their rivals Espanyol.

Pochettino spent eight years playing for Espanyol, Barca's city rivals, before also coaching the team between 2009 and 2012.

Barcelona's current manager Luis Enrique has announced he will leave at the end of the season and Pochettino has been linked with taking over this summer.

"I saw. It's a big list, 100 names," Pochettino said.

"It's like if I left there would be a list of 50 names to replace me. That's the business I know very well. I am born, not with the bull but a ball in my arms; I understand very well the business."

Asked to explain his reference to "the bull", Pochettino said: "Only I try to explain I know very well the business of football.

"When I was born it was true my mum and my dad put the ball, not the bull, but a football in my arms.

"It's a metaphorical example to say I understand that business, that my name will be on a list. I think you cannot explain anymore."

"I understand I am at one of the biggest clubs in Europe, Tottenham is one of those," Pochettino added.

"We are in a position where you can see we play good football, an exciting team with very good players, but it's normal we call the attention of the rest of the clubs, of football people around the world.

"We are one of the exciting teams to watch. I don't think about being flattered. We are part of that business and our name appears on the list."

Espanyol is a club considered traditionally Spanish in its roots while Barcelona has always been associated with a strong Catalan identity.

"Barcelona looks bigger than Espanyol but in the end, Espanyol was the real Catalans, the foundation and basis of the club," Pochettino said in September.

"That creates a bit of a problem between us. Always it was special to beat Barcelona because it is my sporting enemy."