Six-year ban for Cup con
Don’t forget how far we’ve come raps boss
FA CUP hero Bradley Wood was yesterday banned for SIX YEARS for match fixing.
Former Lincoln defender Wood (below) deliberately got himself booked in two televised games in last season’s competition. Wood was found guilty for his part in an attempted betting sting which aimed to net around £10,000 during the Imps’ run to the quarter-finals.
Betting monitoring services – one understood to be Betgenius – picked up unusually heavy betting on the full-back being booked in their 1-0 win
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has accused Tottenham’s doubters of having short memories.
The Argentinian knows he is bound to face more flak if Spurs again fail to win a trophy under him this season.
They face Manchester United at Wembley tomorrow in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Pochettino is yet to taste success at the club he joined in 2014.
But he said: “The problem is the short memory that people sometimes have.
“When we arrived here four years ago, all that people were talking about was to reduce the gap to the top four and the challenge was to play Champions League.
“Remember the questions? It was if we are not capable to play Champions League or in Europe – first of all, it was in Europe – how can we retain our best players?
“And then how can we attract more good players? Then we move on, and move on, and go higher and higher.
“Now, it’s to win, of course. But I promise you the club is not going to change if you win or don’t win the FA Cup or the League Cup.
“It would be fantastic to add a trophy to the club but what would put us to a different level would be to win the Premier League or Champions League.
“Here, people love to talk about perception and changing perceptions.
“A good Champions League group stage – you beat Dortmund, Real Madrid and you compete very well against Juventus – and the dimension of the club around the world changes completely.
“In the end, we still need to improve. Yes, in the last season we were capable but the big teams are moving on.
“But like I always said, we are not only focused on trying to improve our football, our players and our squad. We are also improving the stadium, the facilities and everything. The club is doing a fantastic job.”
Spurs have yet to clinch Champions League football for a third successive season, but Pochettino claimed they would still be able to land top talent even if they fall short.
“That was an idea here – that to attract top players, Tottenham need to play in the Champions League,” he added.
“But at clubs like Liverpool, Manchester, Chelsea or Arsenal, win the league or be in the middle of the table, this perception is completely different.
“They think they can attract good players. That is what we are changing at Tottenham.
“If you want to play for Tottenham, come on. If you are a player for Tottenham, put this club at the level it deserves.”