Poch: Sick players is no excuse Gracia gets Silva’s job

MAURICIO Pochettino admits Tottenham’s players were hit by a virus last week but insisted that was no excuse for their sloppy display against Southampton.

Christian Eriksen was a surprise absentee from the Spurs squad as he and Hugo Lloris were both struck down by illness and unable to travel to the south coast.

Harry Kane cancelled out Davinson Sanchez’s own-goal but a below-par Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw and missed the chance to move into the Premier League’s top four.

They will fall five points behind Liverpool if Jurgen Klopp’s men beat Swansea today.

Pochetttino, who took his team on a warmweather training camp to Barcelona last week, JAVI Gracia has been appointed as Watford’s new manager following the dismissal of Marco Silva.

Silva, who joined the Hornets from Hull only last summer, was dismissed by the club’s hierarchy yesterday after Watford’s 2-0 defeat at Leicester the day before. Harry Kane but at the end if you analyse the game it’s a fair result.”

Pochettino also referenced the bobbling pitch at St Mary’s, which contributed to an attritional match, full of loose touches and misplaced passes.

Spurs now find themselves in danger of losing touch with the Champions League spots, ahead of three crunch league games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.

Pochettino refused to be drawn on more reports linking Kane with a move to Real Madrid and also played down the club’s chances of making new signings this month.

“The other clubs find a way to sign players that can improve and help their team and squads,” Pochettino said.

“Nothing to say but for us it is difficult and will be difficult for different reasons. It is obvious.”

For Southampton, who stay 18th, this was a point gained in their fight to avoid relegation and in particular for their underfire manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Marco Silva’s availability after being sacked by Watford threatened to pile more pressure on Pellegrino but there was enough in this gutsy display to suggest a revival may still be within reach.

“They don’t fight just for me,” Pellegrino said. “They fight for themselves and for the club.”

Pellegrino was also optimistic when asked about the prospect of adding new players before the end of the transfer window.

“Hopefully next week will be a good week for us,” Pellegrino said.

Gracia, the 47-year-old Spaniard, replaces Silva after he agreed an 18-month contract at Vicarage Road. Gracia, the former Malaga and Rubin Kazan head coach, is the 10th manager to be appointed by the Pozzo family since their takeover at Watford in 2012.