Mauricio Pochettino is not a happy man.
The Spurs boss, perhaps understandably spitting after the club failed to sign a single player in the transfer window, made one thing clear following his side’s 3-1 win over Fulham on Saturday: he only wants players at the club who are committed.
The Argentine made the point as part of an extraordinary, six-minute diatribe triggered by a reporter’s question about Manchester United target Toby Alderweireld.
The Belgian defender was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer and, while it didn’t materialise, Pochettino clearly feels strongly about the subject.
When asked about Alderweireld following the game, Pochettino went off on one.
“I won’t talk about him [Alderweireld], I’ll talk in general always,” Pochettino said. “I want players committed with the team. Players that are not happy, from my point of view, can leave. Then it’s different if they can negotiate with Daniel [Levy, the Spurs chairman] or not.
“But I want players who are fully committed with the team and want to fight for the team. The players that are here are all committed. Not one told me today that they wanted to find a solution.
“Today, I am so open to listen to players if they want to leave. But if they are going to be here, I want full commitment. If not, tomorrow we can find a solution. I am so tired of talking about this.”
While Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele – two other players linked with moves away – remained on the bench for the Fulham game, Pochettino swallowed his pride and restored Alderweireld to the back-line alongside Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted earlier today he is only interested in selecting players who are fully committed Spurs:
“I want players who are fully committed with the team and want to fight for the team.”
💙👏🏻#THFC #COYSpic.twitter.com/WPvYpEVqMa
— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) August 18, 2018
Pochettino continued, covering everything from football agents to the root of his love for the game.
“If I am here, in my position as manager, because the club trusts in my decision, not because I am so handsome,” he said. “Maybe that too! I understand every single situation, I understand agents, I understand that football is a big business too and people protect their assets and duh duh duh, daa daa, doo doo too!
“You’re not going to put pressure on me or put pressure on my decision. Nobody is going to blackmail me. The club is not going to put pressure on me or I’ll go home.
“When I started playing football it was because I loved the emotions,” he added. “When I started my career as a manager it was to provide the players with the tools to play and enjoy football on the pitch. But sometimes it is so tough, but that is part of my job too, I understand.”
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