Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that he is taking the Europa League seriously this season.

Spurs get their campaign underway on Thursday night when they travel to Cyprus to face AEL Limassol in the first leg of their qualifying tie.

Despite having criticised the Europa League in the past by calling it 'not attractive', Pochettino is now keen on lifting the trophy due to a rule change that that will see the winners enter the Champions League.

"The Europa League now gives the possibility to play in the Champions League and it's now a more interesting competition than before," he told Sky Sports News.

"Before, if you won the Europa League you never had that chance – but now, with that change, it's a more interesting competition."

Tottenham won their opening match of the new Premier League season last weekend with a late 1-0 victory at West Ham United.