Pochettino vows to go all out for ‘magic’ FA Cup
LONDON: Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted that he will take the FA Cup seriously this season, starting with today’s third-round tie at home to AFC Wimbledon.
Pochettino described the competition as ‘magic’ and admitted he cannot take any chances after Spurs fell 2-0 and 3-2 down at home to Wycombe at White Hart Lane last season before winning 4-3.
“The FA Cup is a special competition,” said the Argentine.
“Wimbledon are in League One but always it is tough. When we played Wycombe it was so difficult. The FA Cup is magic and anything can happen. That is why it’s so important to respect the opponent.”
Pochettino, however, will make LONDON: Arsene Wenger was on Friday handed a three-match touchline ban and fined by the Football Association over comments he made about the refereeing of last Sunday’s Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion .
In a separate case, the Arsenal boss has also been asked by English football’s governing body to provide his observations on what he said about penalty decisions that went against the Gunners in each of their past two matches over the festive period, against the Baggies and Chelsea.
“Arsene Wenger will serve a touchline ban for Arsenal’s next three matches after he was charged with misconduct,” an FA statement said. changes after his team played two games in 48 hours against Swansea and West Ham on Tuesday and Thursday. Defenders Kyle Walker-Peters, 20, and Juan Foyth, 19, are in line to feature.
“For me as a player, it was impossible to play again in 48 hours,” said Pochettino. “My physical condition was not great. It was my weakness. Here in England to be a player is so, so tough. The players deserve praise because the effort is amazing.
“It is so important to be consistent in the Premier League and Champions League. But, of course, the FA Cup — we want to win.”
Meanwhile, Tottenham forward Son Heung Min suggested his ‘shushing’ gesture to West Ham supporters after scoring the equaliser in Thursday’s 1-1
“It follows an independent regulatory commission hearing today at which the Arsenal manager admitted that his language and behaviour in the match officials’ changing room after the West Brom game on Sunday was abusive, improper and questioned the integrity of the match referee. He was also fined £40,000 (RM217,000).”
Wenger was furious after the 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns when Arsenal defender Calum Chambers was penalised by referee Mike Dean for a handball that resulted in the home side scoring a last minute spot-kick equaliser.
Arsenal conceded another penalty in their Premier League fixture against Chelsea on Wednesday, when Eden Hazard draw was a response to a racist incident earlier in the season.
In November, in a video broadcast on social media, the South Korean wound down his car window to have a picture taken with a fan. A purported West Ham supporter in a nearby vehicle asked Heung Min if he could get him the Planet of the Apes film.
“DVDs. You do DVDs. Good copies,” the man said.
Being a seller of bootleg DVDs is an offensive stereotype often used to insult Asian footballers.
West Ham issued a statement, insisting the club ‘unreservedly condemn the actions of the individual in the video’.
Heung Min said of his celebration: “It was nothing special, I think they knew why I did it and that’s it.” Daily Mail went down following a challenge from Hector Bellerin.
Wenger will start his touchline ban for today’s FA Cup thirdround tie at Nottingham Forest. His ban will also cover the League Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea on Jan 10 and next weekend’s Premier League trip to Bournemouth.
Nottingham Forest wasted little time in teasing Wenger over his ban.
“Mr Wenger, if you’d like to upgrade your stand ticket to a hospitality package then you can do so by following this link. #NFFC,” the club said on its official Twitter account.
The link provided Wenger with a list of the hospitality packages on offer for the match. AFP