They Really can’t take a joke, Poch!
TOTTENHAM and Real Madrid were embroiled in a bizarre spat yesterday after the Spanish club took umbrage at a joke Mauricio Pochettino made on Spanish radio. The Spurs boss indicated his side had been denied permission to stay at the Spanish club’s HQ before the Champions League final. ‘I asked Florentino (Perez, Real’s president) to let us sleep in the sports centre, but he told me that I can only sleep there when I become the coach of Real Madrid,’ jested the Argentine. Madrid were not amused by Pochettino’s remarks, releasing an official statement insisting they had not denied any sort of request from Spurs. ‘Real Madrid wants to make it clear it is outright false that this request was produced,’ the club explained. Spurs will train at Real on Thursday and Friday.