Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has defended his trophyless record.

Pochettino insists his team isn't ready to win trophies at this stage in their development.

"It's easy to be passionate and shout 'I am a winner' but if you don't have the tools to win it's difficult," said Pochettino, as he prepared to face Newcastle on Saturday aware victory will lift Spurs into second in the Premier League above Manchester City, who take on Arsenal on Sunday.

"Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are the best drivers in Formula One but if you put Hamilton in a McLaren last season and Alonso in a Mercedes it would be Hamilton on the bottom and Alonso on the top.

"I follow Formula One and I love McLaren but it wasn't competitive last season."

Hamilton won the F1 Drivers' Championship in his Mercedes last year while Alonso came in 11th in his McLaren.

"Do you think that's a problem with Alonso or the car?" said Pochettino. "Also, you can have an amazing car but you can crash after the first bend. You can crash with an amazing car and not win."