‘Unbelievable’ – Pochettino raves about ‘Big’ Rangers player
Mauricio Pochettino has compared Steven Davis to Xavi and Andreas Iniesta ahead of the Rangers midfielder becoming Northern Ireland’s most capped player.
Should Davis play against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday night, he will overtake Pat Jennings’ record of 119 Northern Ireland caps and become the most capped player in his country’s history.
Pochettino has heaped praise on his former player ahead of Davis reaching this international milestone and says he is ‘proud and lucky to have spent time with him’.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Pochettino said, “The talent of him I compare to football people like Xavi and Iniesta. You put him in the same level as this type of player because of this capacity to play football, be a playmaker, the intelligence to read the game, his capacity to run. I think to compare Christian Eriksen to this type of player too, they make your team better.
“I remember how the people love ‘Davo’. We were in Catalonia doing pre-season, we were doing a session in the afternoon in the room with a coach doing different things. He needed to go to the toilet. The moment he arrived back we were all very serious, then all the players and staff started to run towards him and start to celebrate. It was an unbelievable experience because it showed how the players loved him.
“I think how humble he is, that it is the most you can appreciate in a professional. He is a simple guy, a family guy, a good friend and we feel very proud and lucky to have spent time with him. He is a big player and a big person.”
Davis worked under Pochettino at Southampton, and together they helped the Saints to an eighth-placed finish and what was at the time, the clubs highest ever points tally in the Premier League.
Davis returned to Rangers in January 2019 after seven years on the south coast, initially on loan before a permanent move followed in the summer.
Davis started in 20 of his 27 appearances for the Gers in last season’s Scottish Premiership as he became a key member of Steven Gerrard’s squad. He has also made nine competitive appearances this term as he looks to help his side end their long wait for silverware.
But Davis’ mind will be fully focused on his national side this week as he looks to lead his side to victory in their European Championship play-off semi-final match against Bosnia, in which he will become Northern Ireland’s most capped player.
Davis could also become the most capped British player of all time in the near future. He is currently six behind Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps, and could easily overtake that as Northern Ireland captain.
In other Rangers news, ‘Act of God’ – Murray claims Rangers handed huge boost.