LONDON • Mauricio Pochettino has claimed it is now "impossible to fight Manchester City and Liverpool" for the English Premier League title after Tottenham slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday evening.
He was already pessimistic about their "tough" chances in the lead-up and his mood was further darkened as his team failed to show they could "fight for big things" at Stamford Bridge.
Spurs did not muster a single shot on target for the first time in the league under Pochettino, while Chelsea netted from the only chance they had through Pedro and a farcical own goal from Kieran Trippier.
The Argentinian admitted his players now had to turn their focus to the top-four fight as "the competition (had) put us in our place".
He said: "It's a 10-month competition, not just three or four months. We are disappointed now.
"After Burnley, I said it was difficult, and tonight... only they (City and Liverpool) can win the league, we must fight to win games and to be fair."
However, the Spurs boss refused to panic despite his players suffering from jitters with their second successive loss in the league.
If they lose to Arsenal tomorrow, the 10-point gap they had over their north London rivals a week ago will be down to one.
Asked if he was concerned, Pochettino said: "I am not afraid. I have the same feeling as before. We need to enjoy playing football.
"Everyone from the beginning of the season would have signed up to be in that position before playing on Saturday... with the possibility of playing against Arsenal at Wembley with the gap at four points. The pressure is on them (the other top-four contenders), not only us.
"If people are scared now about the top four, that is football. It's a massive business for sure, but we need to enjoy it, playing football."
But while Pochettino attempted to put on a brave front in the face of his team's flagging form, Maurizio Sarri felt the victory could be the springboard for a positive end to what has been a turbulent season.
The Blues manager, who dropped his first-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after his insubordination in last weekend's League Cup final, said the result was "really very important because we are fighting for the top four".
The Italian added: "We hope this is the turning point. Maybe, with this result, we can involve Tottenham in this battle (for the Champions League positions). The gap is very large, seven points, but maybe.
"The problem (with Kepa) wasn't so big as you write. In this job, you are under pressure every day, or if you are lucky, every six weeks.
"Kepa made a big mistake and then paid (for it) with the club. In this match, he has to pay for the team. It was only a message for all the team. Now we stop the question, it is behind us and in the future, Kepa will be with us."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Manchester City football flag (Reuters pic) MANCHESTER: Manchester City will play a pre-season match in Japan for the first time when they take on J League side Yokohama F. Marinos on July 27, the
Manchester City to play pre-season match in Japan against
Pele will have an operation to remove a 'ureteral stone,' his doctors said Wednesday, a day after the football great returned to Brazil following treatment in a Paris hospital for an infection. The 78-year-old was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo for more tests after arriving in Brazil early Tuesday.
Pele to have urinary tract surgery in Brazil: hospital * 10z
SINGAPORE - Former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Winston Lee withdrew his candidacy for one of nine seats on the executive committee members of the Asian Football
Football: Ex-FAS general secretary Winston Lee withdraws
sports-life-news.com/soccer/football-ex-fas-general-secretary-winston-lee-withdraws-candidacy-for-afc-exco-seat/
SINGAPORE - Former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) general secretary Winston Lee withdrew his candidacy for one of nine seats on the executive committee members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), just before the Asian football body's congress in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (April 6).
Football: Ex-FAS general secretary Winston Lee withdraws
Teenager arrested after calling Huddersfield ace Philip Billing a 'black donkey' on social media. Philip Billing exposed the sick racist abuse condemn the disgraceful abuse that Philip
Huddersfield condemn racially abusive message sent to
Aguero inches Man City closer to title. Sergio Aguero's 20th Premier League goal of the season left Manchester City just two wins from the title after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley
Aguero inches Man City closer to title - 24matins.uk
* Chelsea won 2-1 at Brighton to consolidate fourth place. Sign up to our news and offers. I consent that the Eurosport family of companies may provide me with news and marketing information about
Chelsea hold on against Brighton to consolidate top four spot
How Pep Guardiola's Man City starting XI has changed since first match in charge. Pep Guardiola has made wholesale changes to the Man City line-up since taking charge in 2016 - we analyse what has
EzineArticles Submission - Submit Your Best Quality Original
Football: Gabriel Jesus fires as Manchester City snatch top spot from Liverpool LONDON (AFP) - Manchester City laid down the gauntlet to Liverpool by leapfrogging their title rivals back to the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Everton at the Etihad on Saturday (Dec 15).
Gabriel Jesus fires twice as Manchester City snatch top spot
Dec 13, 2012 · MLS: Former Mexico and Barcelona star Rafael Márquez is to leave the New York Red Bulls, ending a troubled time in MLS. But where does he rank among the league's big-signing flops.
Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne will stand trial for sexual assault in October after allegedly kissing a woman without consent on a train, a judge ruled on Tuesday. The 51-year-old ex
Football: Former England star Paul Gascoigne faces assault
* Everton at Spurs next, Burnley host Arsenal EVERTON 2 BURNLEY 0 May 3 (Reuters) - Everton bolstered their chances of qualifying for next season's Europa League with a 2-0 win over Burnley in the
Everton ease past Burnley to keep UEFA Europa League dream
Casillas has heart attack but Porto says he is out of danger
Unai Emery thinks it is possible for Liverpool to emulate Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team from the 2003-04 Premier League season. The Gunners, under the management of Arsene Wenger, retained
Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said his "confident" side could stage a Champions League fightback at Paris Saint-Germain this week after a dramatic 3-2 victory over
Solskjaer 'confident' of Man United miracle in Paris | The
Football: Singapore Premier League club Warriors barred from
0 comments:
Post a Comment