So impressive were Saints, in fact, that the prospect of Europa League football looked a genuine possibility as the season entered the home straight.

That was a prospect Pochettino was far than enamoured with, though, calling it a “competition for teams that are not good enough to be playing with the best” and warning that it could “kill” teams’ league hopes.

The former defender made those comments just six months ago, but dramatically changed tack on the eve of Tottenham’s Europa League play-off against AEL Limassol thanks in no small part to the competition’s restructuring.

“The Europa League is now a different competition,” Pochettino said. “Why? Well, if you won it last year you basically got nothing. Just a trophy.

“Now the Europa League gives you the opportunity to play in the Champions League. That is a big challenge for us.”

Bigger challenges will follow should Spurs make the group stage for a fourth successive season, although overcoming AEL Limassol will be a tougher ask than some are suggesting.

The Cypriot runners-up started this campaign with a 1-0 home win against a Zenit St Petersburg side managed by former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, only to lose that Champions League third qualifying tie 3-1 on aggregate.

Heat and humidity compounds matters, as does a poor pitch at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, for what will be Pochettino’s first taste of management in continental competition.

The 42-year-old did not manage previous clubs Southampton and Espanyol in Europe, although did, as fate would have it, make his bow on this stage as a player with the latter in Cyprus 18 years ago.

“In 1996 we played against APOEL Nicosia,” Pochettino said. ”We drew 2-2 in the first leg and we won 1-0 in Barcelona.

“What a coincidence – not that I remember much about the games.

“I remember it was very hot as it is now and that we drew the first leg here in Cyprus before winning the second back in Barcelona. I would settle for the same outcome this time.”

Tottenham are joined in the Europa League play-offs by Hull, who also play their away leg first as they bid to make it to the group stage for the first time in their history.

Steve Bruce’s side take on Lokeren in Belgium on Thursday evening after a win at QPR that came at a price, with Robert Snodgrass ruled out for six months with a dislocated kneecap.

The 26-year-old joined from Norwich in the summer for £7million and pulled up with a suspected twisted knee in the first half of his side’s 1-0 win at Loftus Road.

Speaking about the injury, Snodgrass wrote on Twitter: “Gutted ....!!! But I will work as hard as I can to come back fitter and stronger.”