Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has asked for respect to his players following a 2-1 loss to Inter Milan in the Champions League. The Argentine blasted a journalist in his post match press conference when he was asked about Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld.
Spurs were on the verge of a famous win at the San Siro as Christian Eriksen’s strike put them ahead but two late strikes from Mauro Icardi and Matias Vecino dashed their hopes as they have suffered their third loss in as many games.
Pochettino left Trippier and Alderweireld in London as he might have wanted to provide the players with a much needed rest. Both the players were involved with their respective countries in the World Cup and had a pretty hectic summer.
Pochettoino said, “Against Watford and against Liverpool, they were on the pitch.
“Wow, what a question, such an easy question? [It’s] easy to talk about the players that aren’t here. I think we need to talk about football. Because, you know I think you force me to say something that is not good.
“You disrespect the players that showed better qualities than the opponent.
“Why disrespect the players that aren’t on the pitch?
“You can blame me and say, ‘Gaffer, you were so, so rubbish in your selection of the starting XI’. But please don’t disrespect the players who were playing, because it’s my decision. Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld – we have 25 players.
“And you believe that and sometimes you behave like you ask me with your question, that you can play only 11, and the other 13 or 14 players are rubbish, are s***.
“Sorry, but I am so disappointed because I am a person that respects you a lot and the players. When my decision is to play with an XI, you must respect my decision because I am the manager.
“I don’t understand. Sorry. It is so painful to hear when some people are not here, and you judge in that way, and you kill players who give their best.”
