No malice intended
FAIR GAME: Pochettino defends Rose over challenge on Bellerin
MAURICIO Pochettino has defended Danny Rose over the challenge that has left Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin facing a month on the sidelines.
Arsene Wenger revealed the setback on Thursday, after Rose and Bellerin clashed in the dying seconds of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
“It was a bad one,” said Wenger. “Did Rose want to injure Bellerin? I don’t think so, he just went in for the tackle. It was the last 10 seconds and it’s annoying to lose him, for sure.”
Spurs boss Pochettino was adamant that Rose had done nothing wrong, saying: “What happens on the pitch is never about bad intentions, it is about football.
“I totally understand when players are playing with passion like Danny or anyone in our team. We are always aggressive and sometimes things happen. You cannot avoid contact.
“We want all players to be like a man, to be aggressive, to make a tackle. But intention to injure the opponent? Sometimes you cannot stop, you arrive late and you cannot criticise every tackle.”
A more pressing concern for Pochettino is securing a first win in seven games and beyond that a simmering contract issue involving his two leading men, Hugo Lloris and Harry Kane.
Kane wants a significant upgrade on his £60,000 (RM324,000)-a-week deal and talks have stalled, while Lloris, Tottenham’s top earner on £90,000, is holding off on discussions.
But Pochettino was adamant that West Ham manager Dimitri Payet.
Tottenham’s both are “happy” at White Hart Lane.
On Kane, who has three and a half years remaining on his contract, and Lloris, who is tied to the club until June 2019, Pochettino said: “The
with
“We have enough quality. If one or two more come back from injury like we are expecting they will, then we can improve from the last game... It’s a tough time for us,” Bilic added.
The Hammers play fifth-place Spurs today at White Hart Lane and then travel to Old Trafford to face sixth-placed Manchester United before hosting fourth-placed Arsenal at the brand-new London Stadium. Reuters
( front) and Arsenal’s
clash during their recent match. fans need to have no worries about this because the players show their commitment to the club, they want to be here for the long term. The club and the players are talking about maybe improving or having extended
contracts. It’s not a big problem.”
Toby Alderweireld is likely to be out for a further 10 days with a knee injury. Spurs had hoped he would return to face West Ham today. Daily Mail