Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes Mauricio Pochettino has been forced to tear down the Tottenham Hotspur he inherited and start again, with the side he took over containing a range of "real bad characters".

Pochettino's side thrashed Manchester City 4-1 at White Hart Lane on Saturday to continue their fine run of form and Neville was impressed with their performance.




The former defender, noting Franco Baldini having left the club as technical director on Monday, thinks Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has chosen to give his full backing to Pochettino.

"I think Daniel Levy had to back a horse and he's chosen the coach", Neville said on Sky Sports Monday Night Football.
 


"Normally in the hierarchy the sporting director is usually protected. Franco Baldini was awarded the [Gareth] Bale money and I think Mauricio Pochettino when he went into that club will not have enjoyed what he saw."

And Neville believes Pochettino has been forced to rip up what he took over at White Hart Lane, while pointing to the side on his first game in charge and that which faced Manchester City.

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For Pochettino's first game, the team was: Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose, Aaron Lennon, Paulinho, Moussa Dembele, Christian Eriksen, Roberto Soldado, Emmanuel Adebayor.

And against Manchester City the team was: Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Ben Davies, Erik Lamela, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane.

"I think what he's had to do in this last 12 to 18 months is knock the house down and try and rebuild it again", Neville said.

"This is the comparison of the team he inherited in 2013/14 and the team on Saturday.

"And what he's done, that mob on the left, and I do call them a mob because I think there's some real bad characters there, they are an average age of 26.2, which isn't bad, but he's transformed the team, got a better bunch of lads, definitely a better bunch of lads.

"And with Tottenham the average age now is 23 which is the youngest in the league.

"You are not just transforming a squad at Tottenham you are transforming a culture.

"A culture of being a bit flimsy. You would never ever say they were the hardest working team in the league. You'd always say they are a bit weak", Neville added.