Two-match touchline ban ‘unfair’, says Pochettino

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was “in shock” after receiving a two-match touchline ban from the English Football Association (FA).

Pochettino, who has not yet decided whether he will appeal the ban, was also fined £10,000 (RM54,000) by the FA on Wednesday after accepting an improper conduct charge for confronting referee Mike Dean following Tottenham’s 2-1 Premier League defeat at Burnley.

“I am in shock. I still think it’s unfair. But what can I do now? Nothing, only to accept it,” Pochettino said on Thursday ahead of Tottenham’s league trip to Southampton.

“I still need to see the reasons but the letter has still not arrived. I am suspended for two games.”

Pochettino said he would make a decision on appealing the ban after reading the FA’s letter.

“I’m so curious to see why they decided to do what they did. I need to see the reason why, then we’ll see what happens. This is my seventh season in England and you can see how I have behaved from day one.”

Pochettino managed Saturday’s opponents Southampton when he moved to England in 2013 and he hopes the relegation-threatened side, sitting two points above the drop zone, stay up under manager Ralph Hasenhuettl.

“My wish is Southampton finish in a very good way. Hasenhuttl is doing a very good job, Southampton have a very good squad,” Pochettino added.

“A lot of people were disappointed when I left the club and they are not going to forgive, but I still love them. In one year-and-a-half I spent there, it was a great experience.”

Pochettino also hoped Manchester City and Liverpool would join Tottenham and Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals as he wanted all four English teams in the next round.

“It’s fantastic, both clubs in the quarter-finals is massive for English football, and I hope Manchester City and Liverpool can be in the quarter-finals,” Pochettino said.

“I’m a person that always tries to help English football, and it’s going to be amazing if there are four teams in the quarter-finals.”