SELFIE RESPECT
Poch loves to see rivals celebrate Spurs defeats
MAURICIO POCHETTINO says Arsenal’s posting of victory selfies was a compliment to Tottenham.
The Spurs boss sees it as a mark of respect that their big rivals made such a song and dance of winning the derby.
Arsenal players were all over social media, with keeper Bernd Leno posting a dressing-room selfie after the 4-2 victory on Sunday.
Pochettino says it showed Spurs are being seen as a major scalp.
“What that shows first of all is the respect that they have for us,” he said.
Massive
“When the people celebrate like this, it’s because people respect you and see you as a big club.
“It was a massive win for them and, of course, for us it was a massive disappointment... but it showed the respect that we got in the last few years with our performances, with our results.
“Steve Hitchen (Tottenham’s chief scout) was at the Liverpool game against Everton and was watching our game before in the stadium.
“And when Arsenal scored the third goal all the Liverpool fans celebrated, like Arsenal celebrated after.
“It’s clear we are doing something good. I love this respect. I love it when the people celebrate when they beat you. I don’t like it when the people don’t celebrate because it’s normal to beat Tottenham.
“Obviously if you win a trophy like I won when I was a player, it is a moment to celebrate.
“For me, this is my mentality and I don’t want to say it’s right or wrong, I love to celebrate in private and not make it public.
“I love to celebrate the things with your team-mates. If you win, of course celebrate and show the fans you are happy. It’s fantastic. But when you win a trophy, when you win something special.
“In the end, Arsenal-Tottenham, we are 30 points each, we are in a similar position, still a lot of things to play.
“To be sporting enemies is a fantastic thing, but I don’t want to criticise what people want to do.”
Spurs host Southampton tonight, with Pochettino saying he did not talk to Eric Dier after his goal celebration sparked a brawl against Arsenal. “I didn’t talk with him,” Pochettino said. “Because when you do something and then it’s so evident what happened after, you can take it in one or two directions.
“If you’re a Tottenham fan, you take in one direction, if you’re an Arsenal fan, you take in another direction.
“If you’re the manager of Tottenham or Arsenal, or the Arsenal players doing the warm-up, you’re going to back your players.
“There’s no sense now to talk too much, now it’s just to accept the FA charge or not. It’s under investigation.”