Mauricio Pochettino is full of fight even if Tottenham are not after sorry surrender against Inter Milan

Tottenham looked set to seal a 1-0 win in the San Siro before a late collapse saw them leave Italy empty-handed
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James Olley19 September 2018

In the space of six minutes, Tottenham blew the chance to banish all the pre-season talk that now threatens to shape the early months of their campaign.

Mauricio Pochettino watched the last remnants of positivity from the 3-0 dismantling of Manchester United at Old Trafford just 22 days earlier evaporate as Inter struck twice to inflict a third consecutive defeat for the first time since the Argentine took over in 2014.

This current slump is hardly cause for widespread panic, but it further reinforces concerns over the club’s lack of transfer activity this summer.

Lacking the same strength in squad depth that Manchester City and Liverpool can muster, Spurs were always more susceptible to post-World Cup fatigue — which only leads us back to the conclusion that more should have been done in the transfer market.

Beating United at a ground where Spurs had habitually struggled appeared to rewrite the script regarding how much they could achieve, but another loss - especially coming in the circumstances it did - leaves Pochettino with uncomfortable questions to answer, however much he hates doing so.

In Pictures | Manchester United vs Tottenham | 27/08/18

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It was he who voluntarily lengthened an absentee list which already comprised Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris and Moussa Sissoko by leaving Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld back in London.

Those decisions were close to being vindicated as Spurs held on to a somewhat fortuitous lead, earned through Christian Eriksen’s 53rd-minute deflected strike, only for Mauro Icardi to bring Inter level in the 86th minute with a superbly-executed volley. Matias Vecino then exposed the visitors’ current vulnerability at set-pieces to head home two minutes into stoppage time.

Yet, the manager’s belief in his players is total and he bristled at the question his team selection was weaker for the five changes made.

It was a legitimate enquiry, given the outcome. What followed was a withering dismissal of his interrogator.

“Wow! What a question, such an easy question, eh? You know, easy target,” he said. “Easy to talk about the players that aren’t here, like Hugo or Dele Alli or Sissoko. I think we need to talk about football because you force me to say something that is not good. You disrespect the players that today showed their best qualities.

“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.

Photo: AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

“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?”

These robust responses are nothing new. Pochettino abhors criticism of his team selection, accusing reporters of “creating an issue that doesn’t exist” when asking about Kevin Wimmer’s omission for a Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen in 2016. Alderweireld is a particularly sensitive subject, given it appeared he would depart in the summer, only for his possible suitors to baulk at the £60million asking price.

Pochettino was not afforded funds to strengthen as a result and told to make the best of what he had. His success in doing so since arriving from Southampton has been remarkable. But, at this particular moment, Spurs are on the back foot after successive Premier League defeats and a bad start to their Group B campaign which leaves them already facing an uphill task to qualify.

Barcelona’s late flurry of goals against PSV Eindhoven was a reminder to both Spurs and Inter that they are, in all probability, playing for second place and another reverse to Lionel Messi and Co at Wembley on October 3 will make a top-two finish even tougher.

There was more evidence here to suggest Harry Kane’s time may soon come for a period of recuperation. He missed a golden first-half chance with an uncharacteristically slovenly finish and, quite simply, looks jaded.

Pochettino’s substitutions, long a source of mild frustration among many Spurs fans, did his team little favours, as the withdrawal of Erik Lamela at 1-0 up and then captain Kane as the game ticked into stoppage time seemed to encourage Inter to chase the victory their supporters craved on their return to Champions League football after a six-year absence.

This grand, old stadium is a difficult place to leave in triumph, but Inter looked vulnerable for long spells, leaving Pochettino once again to rue mistakes that, noticeably, he chose to highlight even after that landmark win at United.

“I told you that the circumstances of the pre-season weren’t the best,” he concluded last night.

“Of course, we are suffering a little bit. It’s not an excuse, it’s only the reality, but I think, of course, we need to improve a lot. We need to build our positive period again and we need to work hard.”

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