da realbet： One wanted to slap him really.
da lvbet： After the defeat against West Ham last Wednesday, the manager that actually deserves some admiration went down in some people’s estimations. Although passionate about football and his team he certainly is, pathetic in defeat he is as well.
So, you could have gone top of the Premier League, you could have kicked on while your deadliest rivals lost at home on the other side of London, but you didn’t win, you didn’t go top, so show some magnanimous spirit and tell the world that your team weren’t very good that night.
What did we actually get? We got the easy way out – it was everyone else’s fault.
Talking to Sky Sports, Mauricio Pochettino said: “Always it is difficult, it was a game that was more physical than others, in the way that they play, always this long ball, and they try to fight in every action, and they are very strong. For us it was difficult for the way that we want to play, and the pitch doesn’t help us. But I think in the second half we had more freedom, played better and created chances.”
What a shame, poor old Tottenham. The other team, that are meant to roll over and let them play their game didn’t do that, so they’re in the wrong. What else was there? West Ham were more physical. Urm… it’s a football match. The thinking there would be that that is the point of the game. Get stuck in, win the ball and win your aerial battles. Maybe he was expecting a tea party?
Next from the whinging Spurs boss came the long ball. There may have been the odd direct ball, but the Sam Allardyce days are long gone, and so to that style of play. Is Pochettino admitting that his over-payed and possibly over-rated players can’t deal with a ball being played in a different way now and again?
West Ham apparently tried to fight in every action. It’s a London derby and both teams want the points. Gentlemanly conduct and ‘after you please’ doesn’t enter into this. You have to admit that it comes to something when an Argentine says it was too rough. Then there was the pitch. Narrowed a bit maybe, but it’s not there to help you, it’s there to help the home team – deal with it.
Funnily enough Pochettino ended the interview by saying: “Now it’s impossible to blame or complain about this game, we must find a solution and be ready to play again.”
But you did complain and blame. That’s all you did. Why not give the opposition some credit and take the responsibility as your team lost. Blame yourself and blame your team – it’s no one else’s fault.
Appointed as head coach in May, 2014, Pochettino built his coaching reputation in Spain with Espanyol before making his mark in the Premier League during an 18-month spell with Southampton. He is highly admired within the game and his name has been associated with some big, big clubs of late.
With Dortmund this week in Europa League action, let’s hope the Germans aren’t too rough and let Spurs play just how they want. Also we’d better make sure that the pitch isn’t too soft, it isn’t too hard, but that it’s just right.
Win humbly, lose graciously and stop moaning and whinging, Mauricio!
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