SPURS SMASHED

Pochettino woe after ‘worst day as a boss’

MAURICIO Pochettino slammed his Tottenham players and described their collapse at relegated Newcastle as his ‘worst day as a manager’ as they surrendered second position to rivals Arsenal.

Spurs needed just a point to guarantee runners-up spot — and to finish above the Gunners for the first time in 21 years — but were soundly beaten despite playing the final 25 minutes against 10 men, during which time Newcastle scored three.

A furious Pochettino has now promised to hold a full inquest into their performance and has apologised to the club’s supporters, 3,000 of whom made the trip to St James’ Park.

‘I would like to apologise to our fans,’ he said. ‘Our team was terrible for them,’ he said. ‘To our families too, I apologise. It’s difficult to go back to see your kids, your wife, your girlfriend, your dad — this wasn’t the team that played all season. It’s my worst day as a manager. Not just in England. In Spain, too.

‘I feel bad because the worst thing is that we showed we don’t care about the position in the table. This upset me.’

It was supposed to be Newcastle’s funeral but, on a bizarre afternoon in which fans urged Rafa Benitez to stay and the team responded by burying a shambolic Spurs, the celebrations and songs felt more like a wedding.

Surely now, after the Toon Army fired an unrelenting and passionate plea to their manager, Benitez cannot file for divorce by activating the relegation break clause in his three-year contract.

Owner Mike Ashley, in attendance for the first time since the opening day of the season, made straight for the Spaniard’s office after full-time and so began the charm offensive by the club to persuade him to remain in the Championship.

Benitez will need more than a pat on the back. He wants an agreement which sees full control of transfers and a sizeable budget to boot.

But the sight and sound of St James’ Park rising as one to bellow ‘Stand up if you love Rafa’ will play its part.

‘My heart is saying yes (to staying on),’ said Benitez. ‘It’s a fantastic opportunity, but you have to use your brain. I was expecting the fans to be behind the team and supporting me, but it has been amazing and positive.

‘I was open to talk and now I am more open to talk. Hopefully, this week we will start analysing what is going on and what will be the future of Newcastle — and my future. I want the best for the club but also for me.’

This was their most impressive performance of a sorry season and took them to six matches unbeaten.

How can you explain putting five goals past title contenders when Newcastle failed to score against bottom-club Aston Villa in a match they had to win eight days earlier?

Spurs were trailing 2-1 when Aleksandar Mitrovic planted his studs into the shin of Kyle Walker midway through the second half and was sent off. But it was Tottenham who played out the game as if reduced in number

The hosts were 2-0 up at half-time, Georginio Wijnaldum steering home from 12 yards before Mitrovic doubled Newcastle’s lead with a bullet header.

Erik Lamela gave Spurs hope with a blast from a narrow angle which cannoned between Karl Darlow and a post and into the roof of the net. But when Mitrovic was rightly dismissed, Newcastle found an extra gear and Spurs hit reverse.

Moussa Sissoko was felled under minimal contact from Jan Vertonghen inside the area and Wijnaldum finished from the spot.

Substitute Rolando Aarons then Daryl Janmaat also netted for Newcastle to compound Pochettino’s misery.