- Mauricio Pochettino feels that there is too much ‘hypocrisy’ in football
- The Tottenham boss was forced to defend Dele Alli’s dive against Liverpool
- Alli was booked for simulation, his third yellow card for diving in three years
- Pochettino says the sport has to stop over-analysing itself
Mauricio Pochettino feels there is too much ‘hypocrisy’ in football after being forced to defend Dele Alli’s dive against Liverpool.
The 21-year-old Tottenham starlet was cautioned for simulation at Anfield – his third yellow card for that offence since his Premier League debut in 2015.
Pochettino, who still maintains he never touched Michael Owen when the England striker won a penalty against Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, feels football has to stop over-analysing itself.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino feels that there is too much ‘hypocrisy’ in football
Pochettino defended Dele Alli’s dive against Liverpool – he was booked for simulation
‘The problem – and not only here in England – is the hypocrisy,’ said Pochettino.
‘Because at times, we understand football [only] in the way we want. Sometimes we are positive or negative according to whether it benefits us or not.
‘Our responsibility as managers or people who are in football is to try to respect the essence of the game. I heard Valdano say on television in Spain, “I loved the football of the 1990s”. I agree with him.
‘The game in that era made an impact on those of us who love real football. Of course we can improve things, but that is the sort of football we need to keep, because otherwise we will end up watching a different sport.’
Tottenham are preparing to face Newport County in their FA Cup fourth-round replay at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
Pochettino claims Michael Owen dived to win England a penalty at the 2002 World Cup