Eddie Howe has backed Tottenham Hotspur to push for the Premier League title after he admitted that the club have an "outstanding manager" in Mauricio Pochettino.
Pochettino takes his Spurs side to the Vitality Stadium for Saturday's lunch time clash with Bournemouth and Howe told reporters, in quotes published by the Hertfordshire Mercury, that he considered the Argentine as one of the best managers in world football at the present time.
Pochettino called Howe a "fantastic coach" for the work he had done on the South coast in his own pre-match press conference on Friday, and Howe was equally gushing in his praise of the former Malaga and Southampton boss when quizzed over the job he had done at White Hart Lane.
Howe said: "They (Tottenham) have an outstanding manager who, in my opinion, is up there with the very best. The intensity at which his sides play makes them difficult opponents. They are genuine title contenders.
"Tottenham haven't been beaten or conceded a goal from open play in the league this season, so they're certainly in good form. For me, last season they, along with Manchester City, were the strongest side we faced."
Howe, who rejected calls for him to be handed the vacant England manager's position recently, also stated his belief that his charges had learned from last season's matches against Tottenham.
Bournemouth were soundly beaten 5-1 at home by a rampant Spurs side last season, and also suffered a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in North London in March.
However, Bournemouth have won three successive home matches since losing 3-1 on the opening day to Manchester United - a run that included a 6-1 thumping of Hull City last time out.
Howe now believes that his Cherries' players will be all the better for having experienced what it is like to play against a team managed by Pochettino, and expects his side to put in a stronger performance in front of their fans than in 2015/16.
WATCH: Mauricio Pochettino among very best, says Eddie Howe. https://t.co/mIICIag2gO #SSNHQ https://t.co/X9dgleFuMI
He added: "We had two very tough games against Spurs last season, but we've definitely learnt from those experiences. I think we're better prepared for these kind of games.
"We're more hardened to Premier League football and our belief and confidence levels are better than what they previously were, but we have to prove it on the pitch. It's going to be a real test for us."
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