Mauricio Pochettino and Harry Kane insist Tottenham still want Europa League spot

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino insists his side are still determined to clinch a place in next season's Europa League and will strive to do that with two wins in the remaining games of the campaign.

The north London side's dismal performance in their 3-0 defeat to Stoke City on Saturday cast further doubt on whether the club actually want to qualify for the competition next term, having seen its schedule undermine their domestic efforts this season.

Pochettino's side have picked up just a single point from a possible nine but will still qualify for Europe's second competition if they remain in sixth place.

The Tottenham boss said: "I think it is good for the club to achieve the Europa League and this is what we are going to try. It is difficult now, but we need to do the last two weeks and to try to win the first game on Saturday with Hull City. "

Tottenham's faint hopes of finishing in the top four of the Premier League and securing qualification for the Champions League were officially ended on Saturday (9 May) after their defeat to Hull before Manchester United went on to beat Crystal Palace.

With the race for a top-four finish intensifying each season, Tottenham's leading scorer, Harry Kane, has echoed his manager's sentiments and urged the club to qualify and win next season's Europa League in order to join Europe's elite.

"The Europa League is another chance to win a trophy, which is something we have made clear we want to do," Kane said. "We will try and win the last two matches to qualify. We will be taking that competition seriously.

"If you want to go and win the Champions League, you have to play a lot of games. Europa League is no different. It will give us a bit more experience in Europe and help us push on to the Champions League. Everyone wants to be involved."

Tottenham face Hull City on Saturday (16 May) in a game that the Tigers must win to save their Premier League status.