I WON’T QUIT

Punch- drunk Pochettino is def iant despite another defeat

MAURICIO POCHETTINO shrugged off talk of him quitting Tottenham yesterday despite a second humbling in five days leaving him feeling like he had been ‘punched’.

Spurs were beaten 3-0 by Brighton, having lost 7-2 to Bayern Munich on Tuesday but Pochettino said: ‘I accept the criticism. I don’t need to show my commitment. My commitment is there after five years and a half [at the club]. I need to accept all criticism. It’s not going to change my ambition We can bounce back. I feel sorry for our fans.’

Asked if he was concerned for his job, Pochettino said: ‘No, I’m not worried. What worries me is life, not football.’

BRIGHTON are no Bayern Munich. Ne a l Mau p a y is no Robert Lewandowski, Mat Ryan is no Manuel Neuer and Aaron Connolly was never expected to do what Serge Gnabry did in t hat 7- 2 demolition on Tuesday.

Yet they had Tottenham’s number all the same here. They embarrassed Mauricio Pochettino’s men, with the manager saying these two heavy defeats left him feeling as though he had been punched.

Those present at t he Amex Stadium got the party started early singing: ‘We want seven, we want seven.’ The ‘oles’ rang round as Brighton caressed the ball from man to man with the game won.

Their supporters even serenaded Pochettino with chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’. The Argentine cannot have endured many worse weeks as a manager than this.

Before the dissections of Tottenham begin, however, we must first applaud Brighton. The last time they scored more than once in a league game at home? December 2018, against Crystal Palace.

This win was largely down to Connolly, the 19- year- old from Galway making his full Premier League debut. His second goal was remarkably similar to Gnabry’s first on Tuesday, both running from the left at Toby Alderweireld, both cutting on to their right foot, both scoring into the far corner.

Was that by design? ‘Coincidence,’ said Graham Potter. ‘I tend to not say to my players, “Be Bayern Munich”.’ Even so, it was impressive and Connolly formed a fine forward partnership with Maupay, who opened the scoring.

It was a howler by Spurs goalkeeper a n d c a p t a i n Hugo Lloris which led to that goal inside three minutes, though what happened next churned stomachs inside the Amex.

Pascal Gross sent an in-swinging cross from the left towards the back post and a routine catch from Lloris was expected. Yet the backtracking Frenchman fumbled the ball, leaving it for Maupay to nod into an empty net.

While Brighton celebrated, Lloris stayed down. At first, you thought he did not dare get up because of embarrassment. Not so. It was because, as he landed, his left arm bent backwards, leaving him in excruciating pain.

One particular replay, shown on the Amex’s big screen, showed the moment it appeared to snap. It drew a gasp from the crowd and that clip was not shown again. After five minutes of medical attention, Lloris was carried off on a stretcher, inhaling oxygen and with a doctor supporting his arm. Paulo Gazzaniga came off the bench.

Tottenham’s horrific week had just got worse.

Brighton went into this having scored five Premier League goals this season and three of those came on the opening day. They had been creating chances but not finishing them off. So i nto the starting line-up came Connolly, born in the year 2000. After 32 minutes the teenager marked his first start in the top flight with a goal.

A cross came in from Dan Burn and Connolly got to it first. His initial shot was saved by Gazzaniga but he was back on his feet in a flash to finish the rebound. Suddenly, Tottenham were trailing 2-0. Can we call it a crisis now? Brighton’s supporters think so, as t hose first

songs about Pochettino being given the boot began to be heard. Moussa Sissoko, the midfielder being used at rightback, had suffered a challenging half of football. Both of Brighton’s goals originated on his flank.

After 43 minutes, we witnessed something rare — a Tottenham chance. Son Heung-min and Harry Kane led a breakaway. The ball was spread to Erik Lamela. He had a go but Lewis Dunk got back to clear off the line.

At half-time, Pochettino took off £54 million Tanguy Ndombele and on came Harry Winks. Yet still, Brighton pushed for a third. When out of possession, they pressed. When in it, they asked questions.

On the hour mark, Gross rattled the crossbar with a free-kick from the left. Moments later, it was 3-0 and game over. Connolly ran at Alderweireld, who looked like a lost puppy. The Brighton striker could see where he wanted the ball to go and he duly found the far corner. A fine finish.

Once again, those chants came out: ‘We want seven’. Followed by: ‘Sacked in the morning’.

In the 70th minute, Kane could and should have scored. He cut on to his left foot, sending one defender to the shops, but then fired over the crossbar. Not his day and not Tottenham’s.

How do you get over a 7- 2 thrashing at home by the champions of Germany?

Not like this, that’s for sure.