Pochettino: It should be considered an insult for us to concede from a set-piece
Mauricio Pochettino has told his Tottenham Hotspur players that he cannot solve their vulnerability at set-pieces through coaching alone and that they have to consider it a question of professional pride that they are not outmuscled in the way they have been recently.
His Spurs side conceded that way twice against Watford and then again with the winner from Matias Vecino for Inter Milan on Tuesday, in a run of three defeats that represents the worst spell of form since Pochettino took over.
A former defender himself, Pochettino said he had worked hard on his players’ positioning but as the defending team they should view being beaten in that way as a personal “insult”.
Ahead of the visit to Brighton and Hove Albion today, the Spurs manager also said he and his staff had done their best to manage tiredness with Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose – two members of England’s World Cup squad – who both requested to be substituted during the 3-0 win over Manchester United last month. Pochettino said the pair, who both subsequently came off during the game, have been given as much rest as was possible.
On the art of defending setpieces, Pochettino said he expected his players to have the determination to win their individual battles.
“If I mark this guy then he’s not going to touch the ball. That is about having something inside, to be strong, when the ball is in the middle between you and me it’s about who is strong: you or me? To anticipate the action, about who is stronger, about who is going to win and that’s the thing that is so difficult to manage.”
He said there was a limit to the preparation that could be done and, in the end, it came down to the mindset of his team.
“It’s in your education, how you were taught or how brave you are, how you feel, like it’s an insult if someone beats you. If I am supposed to mark someone and he touches the ball then it’s a dishonour for me. That’s how you need to feel. If you don’t then it’s difficult.
“When I was a player, I wasn’t the best, but you always need to have that bravery that says: ‘I want to fight with someone’.”
Pochettino said he had given more time – 21 days – than many other clubs to players recovering from the World Cup finals. He cited a conversation with Mikel Arteta, one of Pep Guardiola’s assistants, who had told him some Manchester City players had been given less.
Pochettino said he alone knew the energy levels of his players.
“In the second half [against United] after 70 minutes the two full-backs Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier asked to leave the pitch and they were ready again to play one week after. [They came off ] because they were tired. It is difficult to cope working hard in a highlevel game. When you see all that happened it’s an easy answer. When we assess the team we always try to find the right decision to win.”