Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PRESSURE VALVE
Pochettino goes head-to-head with the manager who ended his playing career... and knows he has to win this battle despite horrendous injuries in the Spurs squad
MAURICIO POCHETTINO does not consider himself a victim as he prepared to face the coach who forced him into management. Pochettino (left) has an injury-hit squad without five firstteamers to face Barcelona in a must-win clash, which also throws up a fascinating piece of history between the rival bosses.
Barca’s Ernesto Valverde effectively ended Pochettino’s playing career, when he was in charge of Espanyol in 2006, and dumped the ex-argentina defender because he thought he was too influential in the dressing room.
Pochettino admits he was angry and found it difficult to accept, but quickly moved into management after taking his coaching badges, and returned to Espanyol as manager in 2009.
The Tottenham boss said: “He arrived at Espanyol at not a good time for me. I could not see it at the time. But I can now.
“In football always you are protected by this bubble. Then, when somebody shows you the reality, it can surprise you. But after that I prepared myself as a coach and this is where I am today.
“In football and life, situations can change very quickly and I never wanted to be a victim. I wanted to be seen as someone who is brave and faces up to challenges.
“After many years I am now going to face the coach who gave me the opportunity to become a coach.
“Back then, it was difficult to understand his position but now I completely understand.
“You can respect a manager for his decisions, that is our job and everything is good between us.” Pochettino
certainly has less expectation at Spurs than Valverde faces at Barcelona, but is desperate for a result after losing their opening group match with Inter Milan. Another defeat will leave Spurs in serious danger of not getting out of the group which, having seen off Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund at the same stage last season, would be a setback to Pochettino’s progress.
Dele Alli, Serge Aurier, Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele have all been ruled out through injury and the only positive is the return to training of Hugo Lloris. But Pochettino added: “This is my fifth season at Tottenham and never do I use excuses if a player is injured. We are not going to win or lose because we have some players out. “If we don’t win, it’s because we don’t deserve to. The responsibility is my responsibility. We are not going to lose because we miss some players. That is an easy excuse for me. And I don’t want to use that excuse.
“I am not the victim and I won’t be the victim in football and in life. If we are not capable of winning, it’s because maybe Barcelona are better. And if we win, it’s because we are a team.”