Spurs boss showing strain
– Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino (above) goes into today’s Premier League visit to Brighton in the unusual position of being under pressure following three straight defeats.
That run is a first in the Argentine’s four-year reign and comes amid wider concerns on and off the field that the undoubted progress made by Pochettino may stall this season.
A third straight season of Champions League football started with defeat to Inter Milan at the death on Tuesday and losses to Liverpool and Watford already leave Spurs trailing the Premier League leaders by six points.
Things have turned sour very quickly for Pochettino, who less than a month ago celebrated one of the best results of his time in charge with a 3-0 win at Manchester United.
“The group is, of course, a little bit anxious about winning games because it is normal when you don’t win. The atmosphere and the energy is different,” said Pochettino on Thursday.
Even that night at Old Trafford, there were signs of what was to come as the result could have been very different had United taken a slew of first-half chances.
Pochettino showed signs of stress in midweek as he snapped at journalists who asked why he had left defenders Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier back in London.
The defenders are just two of a host of Spurs players that have looked tired from their exertions at the World Cup.
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot for scoring six goals in Russia, but hasn’t netted in his last five appearances for club and country and is another seemingly in need of a break.
The Times reported this week that Tottenham players believe Pochettino’s demanding training regime isn’t helping their World Cup hangover.
Brighton will certainly put Spurs’ set-piece defending to the test with giant centreback Shane Duffy scoring and winning a penalty in their 2-2 draw at Southampton on Monday.
The Irish international also scored from a corner in Brighton’s famous 3-2 win over Manchester United last month. – AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo picks himself up and gets back to business in Serie A against promoted Frosinone tomorrow after his return to Spain in the Champions League ended in a sending off against Valencia.
The former Real Madrid star was handed a controversial red card just days after his first goals for Juventus saw the champions keep their 100% record to pull three points clear at the top of the Serie A table.
Juventus beat Valencia anyway thanks to two Miralem Pjanic penalties.
And after securing a winning start to the European campaign, the Turin giants look to keep their quest for an eighth straight domestic title on track.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri is confident that Ronaldo, 33, will be back to business against a side who are second from bottom of the league with one point.
“He was upset and he needs time to calm down. He needs to rise above it and focus, even if these things leave a bitter taste in the mouth,” said the coach.
The champions will be without German midfielder Sami Khedira who suffered a thigh muscle injury in Spain.
Douglas Costa also suffered an adductor injury, but the Brazilian would have missed the game as he sits out a four-match ban for spitting last weekend.
Inter Milan also return from Champions League duty on a high after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Tottenham in their return to Europe for the first time since 2012.
But Roma fell 3-0 to defending champions Real Madrid in Spain with Napoli drawing 0-0 at Red Star Belgrade.
Inter scored two goals in a seven-minute spell, sparked by captain Mauro Icardi who scored his first goal of the season on his Champions League debut.
Inter – floundering in 15th in Serie A with just four points from four games – head to fourthplaced Sampdoria looking for just their second win in the fifth round of action.
Roma – last year’s Champions League semifinalists – are reeling from their defeat to Real Madrid.
Eusebio di Francesco’s side have not won since their opening game against Torino in August, and trave to Bologna tomorrow.
“I’m concerned but I’m not pessimistic,” said Roma sporting director Monchi.
“I remain confident the coach will find the right path.”
Serie A runners-up Napoli, three points behind Juventus, visit Torino after a lacklustre European stalemate in Belgrade.
Lazio host Genoa after their Europa League win over Apollon Limassol at the Stadio Olimpico, with AC Milan hosting Atalanta after Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal against Dudelange in Luxembourg.
SPAL – who are three points behind Juventus in second – host Fiorentina. – AFP
Uefa have opened a disciplinary case over Cristiano Ronaldo’s red card in the Champions League which will be assessed on September 27, European football’s governing body said on Thursday.
Ronaldo was sent off in the 29th minute of Wednesday’s 2-0 win away to Valencia after a tussle with defender Jeison Murillo, with the former Real Madrid star leaving the pitch in tears.
The Portugal captain fell to the ground in disbelief and then yelled into the air in frustration, although Juventus overcame his dismissal thanks to a pair of Miralem Pjanic penalties. –
The group is, of course, a little bit anxious about winning games. Mauricio Pochettino Tottenham manager AFP