Spurs boss showing strain
– Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino (above) goes into today’s Premier League visit to Brighton in the unusual position of being under pressure following three straight defeats.
That run is a first in the Argentine’s four-year reign and comes amid wider concerns on and off the field that the undoubted progress made by Pochettino may stall this season.
A third straight season of Champions League football started with defeat to Inter Milan at the death on Tuesday and losses to Liverpool and Watford already leave Spurs trailing the Premier League leaders by six points.
Things have turned sour very quickly for Pochettino, who less than a month ago celebrated one of the best results of his time in charge with a 3-0 win at Manchester United.
“The group is, of course, a little bit anxious about winning games because it is normal when you don’t win. The atmosphere and the energy is different,” said Pochettino on Thursday.
Even that night at Old Trafford, there were signs of what was to come as the result could have been very different had United taken a slew of first-half chances.
Pochettino showed signs of stress in midweek as he snapped at journalists who asked why he had left defenders Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier back in London.
The defenders are just two of a host of Spurs players that have looked tired from their exertions at the World Cup.
Harry Kane won the Golden Boot for scoring six goals in Russia, but hasn’t netted in his last five appearances for club and country and is another seemingly in need of a break.
The Times reported this week that Tottenham players believe Pochettino’s demanding training regime isn’t helping their World Cup hangover.
Brighton will certainly put Spurs’ set-piece defending to the test with giant centreback Shane Duffy scoring and winning a penalty in their 2-2 draw at Southampton on Monday.
The Irish international also scored from a corner in Brighton’s famous 3-2 win over Manchester United last month. –
London
The group is, of course, a little bit anxious about winning games.
Mauricio Pochettino Tottenham manager