Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PREMIER LEAGUE
Conflict from Spain boils over in the Prem
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has revealed a feud which runs much deeper than a remark about Harry Kane.
There is no love lost between the managerial rivals from the time they first crossed swords when Pochettino was in charge of Espanyol and Pep Guardiola was coach of Barcelona.
And Guardiola’s ill-advised put-down about Spurs being a one-man team has served to fire up the Tottenham boss.
Pochettino first pitted his wits against Guardiola in 2009 when Espanyol held Barcelona to a draw in his debut game in management and there has been a simmering rivalry since. The ex-argentina hardman’s claim Guardiola “struggles to be a gentleman” midway through his rant yesterday was particularly revealing.
It alludes to Pochettino believing he gets carried away when he is on a high, not showing enough humility when he is winning games. Now two of the sharpest managers in the Premier League are on a collision course.
Manchester City boss Guardiola made the “Harry Kane team” remark after his team’s win at Chelsea last month when he was asked about his rivals and their title prospects.
But Pochettino clearly thinks he was going out of his way to make a point.
He said: “I know Pep very well. He was excited after an amazing victory against Chelsea and struggles to keep his position, no?
“I don’t know why he said it. Why he showed too much respect to Manchester United because in the same way he could have said Lukaku team.
“But in the same sentence he said Manchester United, Mourinho, then he said it was the Harry Kane team. It was very disrespectful to the club.
“If it’s a personal problem with me I can say yes or no. But when it’s about the club it’s different because you know how the fans and the club are working to create a club which is bigger than before and that is an emotional thing.
“When you are a manager you must be very responsible in what you say to the media.”
Even if Pochettino and Guardiola deny publicly it is personal, then it certainly is now. Pochettino is not afraid to say it how he sees it and did the same with Dele Alli. Alli (below) has been struggling for form amid fears he is getting carried away with his own hype, allowing off-the-field distractions to affect his form and dreaming of a bigmoney move to Real Madrid.
Alli has been in contract discussions with Tottenham, wants to be the club’s best-paid player – he is on £60,000-a-week – and super-agent Jorge Mendes is favourite to sign him as a client which would point heavily towards a move to Madrid.
Pochettino said: “It’s true it is a difficult period for him. He cannot play in the Champions League and was banned from the national team. But I have no doubts. He is mature, he is improving a lot.
“His character, everything, make him a very special player. He needs only time to start to have performances like before.
“For two seasons he was on top of the hill. Maybe now he needs to moderate. It’s part of being a great player.”