Pochettino in spiky mood during Champions League news conference

Mauricio Pochettino Champions League press conference TEAMtalk

Mauricio Pochettino was in an irritable mood at Tottenham’s Champions League press conference last night.

Tottenham face Inter Milan in their opening Champions League clash without injured trio Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko, while Pochettino has also chosen to surprisingly leave Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld in London.

And when quizzed about the decision, the Argentinian was in a spiky mood: “It’s a technical decision. What does it mean? It’s a technical decision. You can look it up, find it in the dictionary. A technical decision. Tactical is on the pitch.

“Yeah, maybe tactical is outside of the pitch too. But it’s technical decision, tactical decision, it’s a decision in the end.

“You cannot bring 25 players. You can only play 11 players with seven on the bench. That is the reason.

“You are clever enough to try to understand. This is my fifth season, I never punish players because you win or lose.

“It’s the plan. The plan is keep them (in London) and use different players to play tomorrow.

“There’s nothing behind the decision. It’s only that we’re going to play with different players tomorrow.

“Like when you play with Toby or Kieran, it’s another player out. The best position is to play with different players.”

Harry Kane, who has looked jaded so far this season, has been included in the travelling party.

Youngsters Alfie Whiteman, Luke Amos and Oliver Skipp have all travelled with the squad, who flew out to Milan yesterday.