Pochettino slams Guardiola for ‘Harry Kane team’ comment plus Rose and Lamela updates

Mauricio Pochettino says Pep Guardiola’s description of Tottenham as “the Harry Kane team” was “disrespectful”, “sad” and has caused mirth among Spurs’ players.

After Manchester City’s 1-0 victory at Chelsea on September 30, just before the international break, Guardiola listed City’s title rivals and stated “we saw again the Harry Kane team scores every day two or three goals”.

Speaking at his press conference today, Pochettino made his displeasure clear.

“It was funny when I heard him the other day because I know Pep very well,” said Spurs’ manager. “When it’s exciting after an amazing victory against Chelsea, sometimes [he] can struggle to keep his position and be a gentleman.

“That situation didn’t affect me but the reality is it was very disrespectful for many people and it’s difficult to understand, because he was part of the big success at Barcelona with Messi at his best, and I never said it was ‘the Messi team’. I always said it was Barcelona or Pep Guardiola. I think everyone deserves to be recognised as part of the success of the team.

“I think many people took those words as very disrespectful for the club, and for many players that are here I think it’s a strange situation.
“In my case personally I didn’t take it in a bad way. It wasn’t disrespectful for myself. Only I express my feeling that, for a lot of people, it wasn’t necessary to say that. But I think we need to move on.

“For me, Harry Kane is one of the best strikers – it doesn’t change nothing for me – but it’s important that our position is clear, to be calm and not be aggressive with our opponents. Our responsibility is massive.”

Pochettino continued: “I think it’s a sad comment because the players laugh about that. If you’re a manager you must show more, no? To be above this type of comment.

“It’s sad and it’s not right in football. Today we want to show respect, fair play and everything.”

Asked if he has spoken to Guardiola personally, Pochettino said: “No, of course not. He hasn’t called me yet. Maybe after the press conference he calls me! I’m sure I will reply.

“We have a very good relationship. I have a lot of friends [on his staff]. Of course, it’s a sad comment. It’s not him. He’s a great manager, one of the best managers in the world. Why that comment? It didn’t help him, it’s not a good thing for anyone.

“I think everyone knows how Tottenham is, how Manchester City is, how Barcelona was, how Argentina is. It’s a collective sport. Everyone needs to do his job.

“Of course sometimes it’s difficult, because of the media, or because there is a temptation is to be focused on some players.

“You can remember always the history: it was Kempes in 1978; in 1986 it was the Maradona team; the Dream Team with Johan Cruyff; one of the best teams in the world, the Messi team – the period when he was fantastic.

“Of course Harry Kane is a very important part of the success today of Tottenham but still we don’t win trophies. We need to win trophies to say it’s a massive period for us.”

Meanwhile, Pochettino says Danny Rose is feeling happier at the club after returning to first-team training this week.

The left-back has been out of action with a knee injury since January and voiced a number of frustrations in an explosive newspaper interview in August, questioning the club’s ambition in the transfer market and their wage structure.

Pochettino forgave Rose at the time and, despite rumours that Manchester United remain keen to sign him, the Spurs boss reports that he has had further productive conversations with the 27-year-old as he closes in on a return to action.
“Let’s move on about his situation and all that happened two months ago,” he said. “It’s important now for us and for him to try to be fit and be available to help the team.

“This morning we had a conversation. He’s feeling well, he’s starting again to feel happy about his situation, about sharing with the team more time than before.

“It’s always important for us to talk, create a good atmosphere for everyone to be a part of and feel happy here.




“He’s in that way, to becoming an important part of the team to help himself and help the team. We’re happy with the situation. It’s a completely different situation to the beginning of the season.”

It has emerged this week that Rose is missing from the 2018 Tottenham calendar and Pochettino said: “Yes, he came to see me asking ‘gaffer why am I not in the calendar?’. I said ‘because you were first of all in Central Park in New York doing your recovery, with no time to put the new kit on’.

“I’m sure he will appear in the next few days. Don’t worry. When you are talking about rumours for different players I can say nothing. Of course the players today that are in the squad, no-one is for sale.”

Erik Lamela is also back in training, almost a year after he last played for Spurs, having had long-term problems with both of his hips.

“We’re so happy, they’re doing very well,” said Pochettino. “It’s not full training sessions with the team – I think in the next few weeks [that will happen].

“We’re very happy because they’re feeling so well and they’re so close to being available to select. They want to be part of the team, help the team and feel like players again.

“For Lamela and Danny, it’s difficult to say if it will be one week or two weeks or three weeks [before they can play again]. We need to assess them every day, how they feel after every single session.

“Now, because they’re involved in first-team training, it’s hard for them because it’s different to training alone. If the answer is good for them, maybe in the next few weeks they can be involved and then we’ll decide when they can be part of the squad and be involved in some games again.

“[Mousa] Dembele we need to assess [with his ankle problem]. He’s doing well too. We need to assess him tomorrow and Monday, but he’s close to being involved again. It’s a different situation to Rose and Lamela.

“Maybe he can play next week, if all is going well, like today. Maybe next week he can be involved against Real Madrid, or Liverpool.”

Asked whether Lamela could return as a stronger player, Pochettino said: “Sure, both mentally and physically stronger. When you suffer a lot and are away for a long, long time you suffer a lot but you improve. You start to know yourself better and you have time to think a lot about many things. They’re positive.

“We’re trying to help them be positive but they will be stronger than before, for sure – more mature in different aspects of life and on the pitch too because being available and feeling that emotion to play again is so important for a player.”

Source:Sports.yahoo