Poch slams journalists for showing ‘disrespect’

MAURICIO POCHETTINO lost his cool after Tottenham’s dramatic 2-1 defeat against Inter Milan, slapping down a journalist with a four-letter tirade after being asked about the absence of Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier.

The pair were omitted for “tactical reasons” from the Spurs group that travelled to Milan, but Pochettino insisted that Spurs were the better side at the San Siro despite conceding two late goals to register their third straight defeat, and bristled at the suggestion that the decision to leave two international defenders at home might have been a mistake.

“Please don’t disrespect the players who were playing,” he said, referring to Davinson Sanchez and Serge Aurier who played in place of Trippier and Alderweireld.

“We have 25 players… you play only play 11, (you mean to say) the other 13 or 14 players are s*it.

“It’s easy to talk about the players that aren’t here, like Hugo (Lloris) or Dele Alli or (Moussa) Sissoko. I think we need to talk about football. Because you disrespect the players that today showed better qualities than the opponent.

“When I play an XI, you must respect my decision, because I am the manager. You cannot disrespect. Sorry.

“To be a player is so difficult. It is so painful to hear when some people are not here, and you judge and you kill players who give their best. It’s so unfair.

“Until 86 minutes, we controlled the game. We created big chances to score, I think (Inter goalkeeper Samir) Handanovic was fantastic, and in Europe, until you kill the game, it’s not over. That is football. But we showed better quality than Inter Milan.

“I think that was our best performance since the start of the season. The circumstances in preseason weren’t the best, and of course we are suffering. But that is not an excuse, it is only a reality.

“We need to improve a lot. And I told you after (the 3-0 win over) Manchester United: be careful, be careful, and then the tough period arrived.”

Inter captain Mauro Icardi was jubilant after his equalising volley with four minutes left.

“The ball fell to me so nicely,” he said. “I hit it perfectly and fortunately it went in.

“We deserved the victory, because we tried until the final whistle. I’m happy for the team, for the fans, and for myself, of course. It was a great Champions League debut.”

Inter coach Luciano Spalletti added: “This is exactly what the fans want to see. Icardi scored a magnificent goal. The team had a great game and really went for it in the end.”

The late drama was greeted with deafening applause from the 66,000 crowd in the San Siro, who minutes earlier had feared Inter’s disastrous start to the Serie A campaign would carry over into Europe.

“We came into this game with quite a few problems,” added Spalletti.

“I think that winning in the last minute after turning around the result gives you a lot of enthusiasm and self belief.

“The reaction is a sign we are on the right path.” – The Independent/ AFP