Stop hypocrisy ruining the game we love, Poch tells fellow managers
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has urged fellow managers to protect football from the “hypocrisy” he believes is damaging the game.
His men face Newport in the FA Cup tonight but Pochettino has raised concerns over last Sunday’s game against Liverpool, when his side were awarded two disputed penalties.
Many former referees said it was correct to award Spurs both spotkicks in the 2-2 draw at Anfield, yet Pochettino feels bosses need to take a measured approach to post-match analysis — and quoted 1986 World Cup winner and former manager of Real Madrid Jorge Valdano.
“The problem — and not only here in England — is the hypocrisy,” said Pochettino. “Because at times, we understand football [only] in the way we want. Sometimes we are positive or negative according to whether it benefits us or not.
“Our responsibility as managers or people who are in football is to try to respect the essence of the game. I heard Valdano say on television in Spain: ‘I loved the football of the 1990s.’ I agree with him.”
Pochettino may add Toby Alderweireld to the squad for the first time since he sustained a hamstring injury during Spurs’ 3-1 win over Real Madrid.
With Alderweireld’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, Tottenham could look to extend it for another year. If they do, a clause in the agreement says Alderweireld will be able to leave for £25million next summer.
Spurs face Arsenal on Saturday followed by Juventus in the Champions League three days later.
Despite not winning a major trophy in a decade, Pochettino urged fans to trust him to rest key men for the Cup – surely Spurs’ best chance of silverware this term.
He added: “The fans need to trust our decisions because nobody is more interested in winning than we are. Because if we don’t win, the manager is the first person to pay the price.”
TOTTENHAM (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Aurier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Rose; Wanyama, Winks; Sissoko, Lamela, Son; Llorente. NEWPORT (4-4-2): Day; Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler; Willmott, Bennett, Labadie, Dolan; Nouble, Amond. BT Sport 2, 7.45pm