BURNLEY, England (REUTERS) - Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino all but conceded his team's title hopes were over after they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Burnley on Saturday (Feb 23).
"I said, for me this game is going to be key to put pressure on our opponents. If we didn't win, we cannot put pressure and we cannot think now of being a real contender. It is a massive opportunity lost for us," said the Argentine.
Pochettino vented his frustration at referee Mike Dean in a furious confrontation at the end of the game but he said that the blame for the loss lay squarely at his team.
"You want to win for the emotion, you know how important was the game and when you feel so disappointed and upset, you make some mistakes," he said.
"We made some mistakes on the pitch and I made some mistakes afterwards on the pitch. I need to go to the dressing room and drink some water but what happened, happened. We need to see inside ourselves," added the Spurs boss who said he might apologise to the referee.
Pochettino is likely to face an FA charge over his behaviour at the conclusion.
"I think I am going to accept everything that can happen from the FA. The thing happened on the pitch and I hope that it's not going (any) further."
Â
Spurs remain five points behind leaders Manchester City and Liverpool but missed a chance to put some real pressure on the top two.
City face Chelsea in the League Cup final on Sunday and Spurs could have drawn within two points of Pep Guardiola's side while Liverpool face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But instead of giving Juergen Klopp's side something to worry about ahead of that game, Spurs are left wondering why they are not yet in true contention.
"I think it was a fantastic opportunity for us to be a real contender and to show we are there because we deserve it. What is important to see ourselves and say we need to improve," said Pochettino.
"We need to defend better, we need to play better in possession to improve our quality.
"Never was the game you can say was under control. We create some chances but not enough. In this kind of level, if you want to be a contender you need to come here and show your credentials but it did not happen," he said.
The only positive for Spurs was the return of Harry Kane, who had brought his side level with a 65th minute goal on his return from a six-week injury absence.
Spurs had won all four Premier League games that Kane missed and Pochettino said there was a lesson to be learned.
"That showed the most important is the collective. You can win, you can lose. Harry scored, I am so happy he is back, that is going to help but no one is more important than the team," he said.
Aston Villa into playoff final after shootout win over West
'Victory and goal for Sala', says Cardiff captain Bamba
Guardiola sorry to have derailed Pellegrini's final days at City AFP Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists he has faith in VAR after a controversial night in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola sorry for derailing Manuel Pellegrini's
Liverpool's great hope is that Manchester City are not only playing Brighton - but themselves With the Premier League title on the line at the Amex on Sunday, is there room for another great
Fantasy Football: Manchester City and Liverpool - goal.com
Football: Five games that tipped the scales in Ole Gunnar
Paris St Germain's Ligue 1 title celebrations were delayed again when they suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by second-placed Lille after being reduced to 10 men on Sunday. The capital side, who
Ten-man PSG humiliated at Lille, made to wait for title
Football: Zohore gives Cardiff 2-1 win over Southampton in thrilling finish SOUTHAMPTON, England (REUTERS) - Cardiff City's Kenneth Zohore struck deep into stoppage time to secure a crucial 2-1 win on Saturday (Feb 9) away to fellow Premier League strugglers Southampton, who thought they had snatched a point with a 91st-minute leveller.
Zohore gives Cardiff 2-1 win over Southampton in thrilling finish
England's future bright with rise of starlets: Henderson
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final. By. AFP - May 29, 2019 10:39 AM. N'Golo Kante is a doubtful starter in the final of the Europa League against Arsenal in Baku, Azerbaijan
Chelsea sweat on Kante fitness for Europa League final- The
BARCELONA, Kingdom of Spain — Still, they gasp.Still, in the endthis point, in the end he has done, long oncehis brilliance ought tobecame commonplace, once our expectations ought toare adjusted and our capability for surprise dulled, Lionel Messi will still draw the breath and dazzle the eyes and convey a crowd of nearly one hundred,000 to its feet.
A Genius in Full Bloom, Lionel Messi Lifts Barcelona - Best
bestwnews.com/sport/a-genius-in-full-bloom-lionel-messi-lifts-barcelona/
Even when everything is in flux — when a bright, young Ajax team can go to Turin and beat wily old Juventus, when Cristiano Ronaldo can miss out on the Champions League semifinals, when guards seem to be changing and eras ending — a 3-0 second-leg quarterfinal victory over Manchester United featured soccer's one great, enduring constant: Messi beaming, Barcelona winning, opponents left
Messi the one constant in a much-changed Argentina squad for
SEVILLE • While other teams "have decisive players, we have the best in the world". Lionel Messi left the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan pitch with the praise of Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde ringing in his ears after notching his 50th career hat-trick to give the Catalan giants a commanding lead at the top of LaLiga.
Messi nets his 50th career hat trick !!! : soccer - reddit.com
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI may be getting overlooked by Maurizio Sarri - but he was sought out by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Manchester United beat Chelsea 2-0. The 18-year-old once again failed to get some valuable minutes after he was left on the bench, with Davide Zappacosta preferred as a substitute instead.
Gonzalo Higuain flops on PL debut as Chelsea fans boo Sarri
Football: Mourinho rejects offers, reveals fragile ego at United LONDON • Jose Mourinho revealed that he has turned down three job offers since being sacked by Manchester United last month, adding he was happy to bide his time before taking on his next challenge.
Latest JOSE MOURINHO | The Straits Times
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen