‘It’s impossible’ – Spurs boss fumes over Dortmund’s ‘unfair’ advantage

DORTMUND, Germany: Mauricio Pochettino has appealed to the FA and Premier League to help English clubs in the Champions League after complaining about Tottenham Hotspur’s limited recuperation time before facing Borussia Dortmund.

Spurs were to play Dortmund away in Germany on Tuesday in their last 16, return leg after thumping the Germans 3- 0 in the first leg at Wembley.

However, Pochettino, 47, is far from happy with having a day less to prepare for the last 16 tie at Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park.

Spurs had a bruising 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal in Saturday’s North London derby, whi le Dortmund lost 2-1 at Augsburg on Friday night in the Bundesliga.

“They played Friday, we played Saturday,” said Spurs coach Pochettino.

“It’s not fair to play with a massive disadvantage.

“We need help from the FA and the Premier League - for us it’s impossible.

“We played (a Premier League game) on a Sunday before the first leg, which was on a Wednesday, when Dortmund played Saturday.

“Now we played Saturday, Dortmund played Friday.

“I don’t know if the FA or the Premier League are to blame or television, who wanted us to play live Saturday or Sunday.”

Pochettino pointed to the example of Stade Rennes, who postponed a French league game at the weekend to prepare for Thursday’s Europa League, last 16 tie at home to Arsenal.

“Looked what happened to Rennes, they had a game cancelled the weekend game to held prepare to play Arsenal,” said Pochettino.

“In Europe, the people are more sensitive to helping their clubs prepare for Europe, that’s my point.“I want us to have the same amount preparation time as our opponents.

“We need to change it in the future to help English clubs be stronger in the competition.” — AFP