Son card was unbelievable – Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino angrily criticised referee Michael Oliver’s “unbelievable” decision to book Son Heung-min for diving and then claimed that his Tottenham Hotspur team would be at a “massive disadvantage” against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday due to the scheduling of this 3-1 win against Leicester City.
Oliver booked Son for simulation after he went down following a challenge by Harry Maguire, and Pochettino recalled that the same official had also refused Spurs a penalty against Liverpool in September.
“It was a penalty, the same referee,” said Pochettino. “I am a person who accepts the mistakes, but it was so strange the situation today. It was so clear with Sonny. I’m so disappointed with this situation.
“Do you think we are a team who are trying to cheat the referee? Come on, we are the most innocent people on the pitch. We are such nice people.”
With Tottenham and Leicester out of the FA Cup, Pochettino was also unhappy that this match was played three days before the Champions League first leg against Dortmund.
“I feel so embarrassed because I can accept playing today if Borussia Dortmund play today. Twenty-four hours in this type of competition is a massive disadvantage. It’s so difficult to understand why, when we had one week clear to schedule a different game.”
Claude Puel, the Leicester manager, said: “It was the same feeling against [Manchester] United, we wasted a lot of chances. We need to find a clinical edge because we need the points.”