POCH TELLS FANS: DON’T PANIC.. WE WERE GOOD
MAURICIO POCHETTINO issued a rallying cry after Tottenham’s failure to break down Swansea, telling fans: “Don’t panic”.
The north Londoners hit the bar and had a total of 26 goal attempts before dropping another two points at Wembley against Paul Clement’s side.
But Pochettino (above) said: “I’m not worried. Last week we were saying how fantastic the team was after a fantastic victory against Dortmund.
“Now we draw after not conceding one single shot on target from our opponents and people are saying we were disappointing and need to improve.” Spurs fans fumed at Pochettino’s team changes – three days after their Champions League win over Dortmund – with Son Heung-min at left wing-back and both Ben Davies and Mousa Dembele left on the bench.
But Pochettino added: “The performance of team was so good.
“If you don’t play well, if you don’t create chances, if you concede a lot of chances and drop two points then maybe you can criticise me for not playing Ben Davies and Mousa Dembele.
“We didn’t win because I didn’t select them. Every player gave their all, it’s not about one player. We didn’t have Dele Alli against Dortmund and we won.
“Then people are saying we didn’t beat Swansea because we had Ben Davies on the bench. Why? Why? I think they need to realise we are all together.”
Referee Mike Dean twice denied Spurs spot-kicks – after Martin Olsson had handled in the box and after Jordan Ayew had clipped substitute Serge Aurier. TV replays suggested Spurs had a case but Dean claimed he had penalised Aurier for handball.
Pochettino added: “Maybe it wasn’t a trip and no penalty. I don’t want to complain. The only thing I will say is: ‘Why did the ref try to justify his actions by giving a handball and then telling everyone it was handball against Aurier?’
“If he believes it was handball against Aurier then that’s is fine but there is no need to keep shouting it in the middle of the pitch. And if was handball it was a yellow card, so why not give him a yellow card?”