Mauricio Pochettino has said he is “in shock” after being handed a two-match ban for an altercation with referee Mike Dean.
The Tottenham manager has also been fined £10,000 and will be in the stands for Premier League away games at Southampton and Liverpool.
Why did Pochettino receive a touchline ban? Five key things to know…
- Tottenham fell to a late defeat against Burnley at Turf Moor last month in a game Pochettino had labelled “must-win” for his side to remain in the title race.
- Chris Wood’s opener for Burnley came from a contentiously awarded corner; the ball was adjudged to have come off Jan Vertonghen but looked to have touched a Burnley player last.
- Harry Kane’s equaliser and an Ashley Barnes winner followed, but Pochettino was still unhappy with the corner decision at full-time.
- The Spurs boss angrily confronted Dean and appeared to be enraged further by something the referee said in response.
- A few days later, Pochettino publicly apologised in a press conference but the FA still opted to hand him a two-game touchline ban and a £10,000 fine.
In his press conference ahead of this weekend’s trip to Southampton, Pochettino admitted his behaviour was wrong was insisted the punishment is too harsh.
“I am in shock. I still think it’s unfair. I can do nothing,” he said, according to BBC Sport.
“I feel a bit sad with the punishment. I need to wait and see what they put on the letter and the reason to ban me with two games. That is unbelievable, no?”
Pochettino went on to say Tottenham are waiting for the FA’s official letter before deciding whether to appeal.
He added: “I think we are waiting after Wednesday [for] the letter from the FA but it’s still not arrived.
“I’m so curious to see why they decided to do what they did. Two-game ban is completely unfair and I want to see why and then talk a bit more.”
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Alderweireld: Spurs “mature enough” to win without Pochettino
Right now, it looks as if Pochettino will definitely be absent from the touchline at Southampton but could return to the dugout against Liverpool pending an appeal.
Regardless of the manager’s presence, Toby Alderweireld believes his Spurs teammates are “mature enough” to do what is expected of them.
“I think we have a clear idea of how we want to play and he will show us before the game what we need to do,” Alderweireld said, via the Telegraph.
“I think the group is mature enough to play the way he wants to and the technical staff is big enough to cope with it. Of course, he will be missed, but I think it’s up to us to step up and deliver the performance he wants.”
Pochettino will certainly be back on the touchline when Spurs face Brighton and Hove Albion at either Wembley or their new stadium on April 7.
The post Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino “in shock” over touchline ban appeared first on Squawka News.
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