Rose so sorry as Poch’s pups mess up good name
REGRET was already being expressed by Tottenham players for their X-rated display at Chelsea on Monday as soon as tempers started to cool.
Hopefully, that is a sign that for all the ‘not safe for children’ video nasties emerging from the 2-2 draw, the Battle of Stamford Bridge might mark a personal watershed in the development of this Spurs team.
For all that everybody wanted Leicester to win the title, before Monday few would have begrudged Tottenham being the ones to catch them. Mauricio Pochettino has so successfully nurtured a fresh, energetic, attack-minded philosophy in the youngest squad in the Premier League that Roy Hodgson is set to lean heavily on it when it comes to picking a team for the European Championship.
But against Chelsea, Pochettino’s Pups dirtied themselves, exiting the title challenge with their tails between their legs.
Their impressive first 43 minutes was quickly wiped from the mind by the little “incidents” that can leave a lasting stain. And with social
media going into overdrive regarding Erik Lamela’s stamp on Cesc Fabregas’s hand and Mousa Dembele’s hideous attempt, apparently, to gouge at the eye of Diego Costa, regardless of any punishment from the FA that may follow, it is right that they have so publicly had their noses rubbed in replays of their misdeeds.
The unseemly sight of interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink, 70 this year, being knocked backwards to the ground in the scuffle that broke out after the final whistle needed more instant reparation. “It is not nice to see for kids here or kids watching on TV,” admitted Danny Rose, who was at the centre of the altercations with Hiddink.
“I apologise if it looked bad on TV. It was just handbags being thrown. I saw the Chelsea manager fell on the floor. I hope he is all right.
“People were saying from the bench that he conducted himself like a true gentleman throughout the whole game. He did not want any trouble to be started.”
Tottenham blew their twogoal lead, allowing Chelsea off the hook to secure the point which meant Leicester were crowned champions. Referee Mark Clattenburg booked nine Tottenham players, the most ever from one side in a Premier League match.
And Kyle Walker and Eric Dier – both hoping to play in the high-pressure European Championship this summer – had Clattenburg’s leniency to thank for not receiving further censure for reckless challenges after they had already been booked.
With Dele Alli sat on the sidelines already thanks to a petulant punch on Claudio Yacob in the West Brom game a week earlier, it is clear Pochettino has something of a problem on his hands. The no-nonsense Argentine has spoken openly of liking the “devilment” in players such as Alli but youthful feistiness can quickly turn into a reputation. As it stands, Spurs are not a dirty side.
What they lack is Chelsea’s canny maturity to battle hard but fairly. From the moment John Terry uncompromisingly dumped Son Heung-Min into the advertising hoardings at Stamford Bridge in the first minute, Tottenham knew they were in for a fight.
But while Spurs kicked out willy-nilly, for the large part Chelsea had the experience to tread a careful line just the right side of the law. Spurs still need to acquire that cuteness – Pochettino’s main challenge as he undertakes a new fiveyear commitment to the club. He must help his players to become older and wiser.
“This is not going to be a one-off,” said striker Harry Kane. “We are there to fight for the Premier League for many years to come.
“People are starting to see that we are a good team and are getting better and better. All we can do is keep doing what we are doing, learn from games like this and take that into next season.”