Pochettino slams Pep over Kane comments

london — Mauricio Pochettino accused Pep Guardiola of being disrespectful after the Manchester City manager claimed Harry Kane’s prolific form is the only reason for Tottenham Hotspur’s success.

Kane has scored 11 goals in his last six appearances for Spurs to keep Pochettino’s side in touch with Premier League leaders City.

The 24-year-old also scored England’s winning goals in their recent World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania.

Speaking during the international break, City boss Guardiola said: “We saw again the Harry Kane team scores every day two or three goals”.

Pochettino didn’t take kindly to Guardiola’s taunt and the Tottenham manager hit back by pointing out that goals from Lionel Messi were the driving force behind the Spaniard’s trophyladen spell at Barcelona.

“That didn’t affect me but the reality is it was very disrespectful for many people,” Pochettino said on Friday. “It’s difficult to understand because he was part of the big success at Barcelona with Messi at his best, and I never said it was ‘the Messi team’. I always said it was Barcelona or Pep Guardiola.

“I think everyone deserves to be recognised as part of the success of the team. But I think many people took those words as very disrespectful for the club, and for many players that are here I think it’s a strange situation.”

Tottenham, who host Bournemouth on Saturday, trail City by five points in the Premier League. —