Spurs Boss Reveals He Had Doubters Within His Own Camp Over Lineup for Real Clash: 'What the F**k?'

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that he came under fire from people within his own camp for the decision to change the way Spurs were set up
Spurs Boss Reveals He Had Doubters Within His Own Camp Over Lineup for Real Clash: 'What the F**k?'
Spurs Boss Reveals He Had Doubters Within His Own Camp Over Lineup for Real Clash: 'What the F**k?' /

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has claimed that he came under fire from people within his own camp for the decision to change the way Spurs were set up for their Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday, according to the Telegraph.

The Argentine manager opted to set up using a variation of the 5-3-2 formation, with the unusual additions of Harry Winks and Fernando Llorente in the starting lineup dominating pre-match talk on social media.

"It was amazing because some people very close to us said, ‘Can we be honest with you?’," the former Southampton and Espanyol manager explained.

"I said, ‘Yes’. They said ‘When we saw the starting XI… what the F***? What happened? What is going on in his mind?’

"And then after 10 minutes at the end of the game, they say, ‘Oh, you are a genius’. I say, ‘Okay, thank you'," Pochettino added. "It’s too difficult to explain what we want in every single game to try to find. It’s not easy to explain to you or to relate to the fans. It’s about trust.

"It’s about the feeling that the manager and the coaching staff, when deciding the starting XI or the way to play, is always to try to win."

Content is unavailable

Tottenham will be hoping to replicate a similar performance to the one they showed in the Spanish capital when Liverpool visit Wembley in the late kick-off on Sunday. 

With home matches against West Ham, Real Madrid and Crystal Palace all on the horizon for Spurs, as well as a trip to Old Trafford, three points will be vital in keeping confidence high for the north London side.


Published