POCH GAMBLE BACKFIRES AS HE TAKES RAP FOR COLLAPSE
ANGRY Mauricio Pochettino launched a fierce defence of his players after his Champions League gamble blew up in his face.
The Spurs boss left Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier in London – only to see Inter come from behind with two goals in the dying minutes to hand his side a third successive defeat.
However, Pochettino said: “Why disrespect the players that aren’t on the pitch? You can blame me and say, ‘Gaffer,
FROM BACK PAGE you were so rubbish in your selection of the starting XI’. But don’t disrespect the players, who were playing, because it’s my decision.
“Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld – we have 25 players. And you ask me, ‘Can you play only 11 – and the other 13 or 14 players are rubbish, are s***?’.”
Christian Eriksen put Spurs ahead, but Mauro Icardi hit a sensational volley and Matias Vecino headed the late winner.
Pochettino added: “Until 86 or 87 minutes, we controlled the game.
“When my decision is to play with an XI, you must respect my decision because I am the manager.”