Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac has spoken of his admiration for Tottenham rival Mauricio Pochettino.

The Bundesliga champions are in London for Tuesday's Champions League Group B clash with Spurs and Kovac is impressed with the Premier League side.

Pochettino has turned them from Europa League also-rans into European Cup finalists and that has not gone unnoticed by the Croatian, who admits coming to watch a Spurs game three years ago.

"It is a very, very positive development," the Croatian said. "In 2016 I was here and they were in the old stadium, I was here to watch Tottenham against Swansea, the flair was different, the stadium was smaller, but the atmosphere was strong.

"You can see what it means when you have a good coach, a good manager.

"In my opinion Tottenham have a very positive light in European football, they are now able to compete with the very big teams, even if it didn't look that way seven or eight years ago.

"They have continuity, he was given time and he has done a great job and that is an example for others.

"It is definitely going to be a game with level footing, when you look at the players from both teams they are all world class from different countries."