LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted that his team faced an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification following their 0-0 draw at Burnley on Sunday.

The stalemate left Spurs seven points below the Premier League’s top four in sixth place, having played a game more than fourth-place Manchester City, who visit Crystal Palace on Monday.

Spurs also have a vastly inferior goal difference to the teams in the top four and with only seven games of the season remaining, Pochettino conceded that the odds were against his side.

“It is difficult, but we have seven games — we will try,” said the Argentine, who handed top scorer Harry Kane the captaincy in the absence of injured goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

“It is true that it is not easy. This game was a very tough game and we need to try to win the most points possible in the next seven games.

“We played better in the second half and we made some chances, but it was not enough to score. Three weeks ago Manchester City lost here. It is not an excuse, but it is a very, very difficult team.”

Burnley squandered the best chance of the game, with Danny Ings shooting straight at Spurs goalkeeper Michel Vorm in the early stages after Ryan Mason had inadvertently played the ball into his path.

But Burnley manager Sean Dyche was pleased with his side’s display, which lifted them above Queens Park Rangers in the relegation zone.

“I think we edged the game, but there was not a lot in it,” he said.

“We kept the tempo high and kept pressing high. Danny has had a great chance and it was unlike him not to put it away. He almost hit it too cleanly.

“Having said that, we are pleased to get another clean sheet against a top side.”

The draw took Burnley level on points with fourth-bottom Sunderland, who were due to tackle Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby later on Sunday.