Race not over yet, says Pochettino
london — Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is not ready to concede the Premier League title to Leicester City despite seeing his side drop precious points in a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
Monday’s result at White Hart Lane left second-placed Spurs seven points behind longtime leaders Leicester with three matches remaining.
Leicester can now clinch the title with a victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday — the day before Tottenham travel across London to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
“Is it over? No, it’s not, because the gap is seven points and there are three left to play,” said Pochettino. “It’s true that it’s very difficult, more so than before this game. Yes, this is very frustrating.
“But we need to still believe and keep fighting and be ready for the next game and hope Leicester drop points,” the Argentinian, looking to see Spurs crowned champions of England for the first time since 1961, added.
“In the first half, we played very well. In the second, we lost a little bit of the control of the game and allowed them to believe and to create chances. When you do not kill the game, you always allow them to believe,” explained Pochettino after Albion defender Craig Dawson made amends for his 33rd-minute own-goal by heading home an equaliser 17 minutes from time.
“We need to be calm and assess the season. So far it has been fantastic. We still need to fight and improve.
“But no complaints. We are very proud since the start of the season on how we have played and worked.”
Pochettino said he had not seen the video circulating on Twitter during the game which showed Spurs’ Dele Alli appearing to punch Albion midfielder Claudio Yacob late in the first half.