Tottenham lost three games in a row for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino and after another press conference outburst are the first cracks appearing in his tenure?
It’s a rare spell of criticism for the Spurs boss, who was angry with his side after defeats against Watford and Liverpool and led to his ‘we are not contenders’ speech before their Champions League tie at Inter.
Pochettino then left Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld out of the squad for the game – a decision which came under scrutiny after a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat in Milan.
The questioning did not go down well with the Argentinian though, who lashed out at the media for questioning the quality of his players.
"Against Watford and against Liverpool, they were on the pitch. Wow, what a question, such an easy question, eh? You know, easy target," Pochettino said.
"(It's) easy to talk about the players that aren't here. I think we need to talk about football. Because, you know I think you force me to say something that is not good.
'You disrespect the players' - Pochettino blasts media
"You disrespect the players that today showed better qualities than the opponent.
"Why disrespect the players that aren't on the pitch? You can blame me and say, 'Gaffer, you were so, so rubbish in your selection of the starting XI'.
"But please don't disrespect the players who were playing, because it's my decision. Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld.... we have 25 players.
"And you believe that and sometimes you behave like you ask me with your question, that you can play only 11 and the other 13 or 14 players are rubbish, are s***.
"Sorry, but I am so disappointed because I am a person that respects you a lot and the players.
"When my decision is to play with XI, you must respect my decision because I am the manager.
"You show too much disrespect for the players who play in the position as the players you have given me the names of now.
"I don't understand. Sorry. You are so kind people, but I don't understand why. Why? Please.
"To be a player is so difficult, and of course for me it is easier on the touchline. I don't run. It is so painful to hear when some people are not here, and you judge in that way and you kill players who give their best. It's so unfair."
Spurs face uphill battle to qualify
Inter celebrated their long-awaited return to the Champions League with a first win of the season and head coach Luciano Spalletti knows it was important to kick off a group that also contains Barcelona and PSV with a positive result.
He said: "You need to try and win these games because you have to go and play away.
"We are right at the start of the group, we need to try and secure the result.
"It was a magnificent win and the reaction at the end showed we are on the right path."
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