Following the 4-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund and qualification through to the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2011, Tottenham Hotspur turn their attentions back to Premier League action this week as we make the trip to Southampton.
For manager Mauricio Pochettino it’s another return to his former club, but following the clash with referee Mike Dean, Poch now serves a two game touchline ban, beginning at St Mary’s Stadium, so he finds himself in the stands for the match.
Having already apologised and accepted his fate, speaking with Sky Sports during the build up to the game, Pochettino slammed the ban as being unfair given the circumstances and also pointed out that he didn’t yet know why the Football Association had determined that should be his punishment, as he hadn’t received a letter yet detailing their reasoning.
“I am a little bit in shock because I think it is completely unfair. But what can I do now? Nothing – only to accept it. I need to see the reason they announced I’m going to be banned. I still don’t know the reason because the letter did not arrive. It wasn’t a big deal. Of course it wasn’t the best way to talk with the referee, but I never expected this sort of situation. I need to see the reason why, then we’ll see what happens.”
Clearly, despite stating he would accept whatever punishment came his way, given the severity of it and Mike Dean presumably getting away scot-free given whatever he said that set Poch off, a possible appeal isn’t off the cards.
“I am so curious to see why they decided to do what they do. This is my seventh season in England and you can see how I have behaved from day one. I always want to help and empathise, understand and behave my best. This is my first time that maybe I wasn’t completely right in behaviour, but I think it is too much. I feel a little bit sad and disappointed with the punishment. It’s unbelievable.”
Whatever happens, the squad should take it purely as extra motivation to ensure we take three points this weekend and then in the Liverpool encounter as I doubt Jurgen Klopp’s lack of punishment in comparison has been missed by anybody at the club.