Mauricio Pochettino: Winter schedule can help newer Tottenham players

The FC crew agree that while Juventus will be favourites against Tottenham, the margin between them is slimmer than it may appear.

Toby Alderweireld will be out until February, but Mauricio Pochettino doesn't expect Tottenham's defence to struggle without him.

LONDON -- Mauricio Pochettino hopes Tottenham Hotspur's relaxed festive schedule will give him the chance to introduce "new concepts" to his summer signings and spark a successful second half of the season.

Spurs host Brighton on Wednesday before taking on runaway league leaders Manchester City on Saturday.

They then have a week off to prepare for a trip to fourth-placed Burnley on Dec. 23, with another week-long break after Southampton visit Wembley on Boxing Day.

Spurs had been due to play West...