Pochettino accuses reporters of disrespect

Mauricio Pochettino has accused journalists of disrespecting his players after Tottenham Hotspur opened their Uefa Champions League campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Inter Milan.

Spurs led through Christian Eriksen and the manager described the performance as having been the best of the season. But there would be a sting in the tail, with Mauro Icardi equalising with a sensational long-range volley after 85 minutes and Matias Vecino stealing victory in stoppage-time with a header following a corner. It represented the latest set-piece concession after the lapses in the defeats by Watford and Liverpool, and Pochettino could be further annoyed by Tottenham’s inability to take a clutch of chances at 1-0. Harry Kane had also missed a clear chance at 0-0. Pochettino lost his cool when he was asked whether the result might have been different had he not rested the key defenders Kieran Trippier and Toby Alderweireld. “You disrespect the players that tonight showed better qualities than the opponent,” he told his questioner. When my decision is to play with 11, you must respect my decision because I am the manager. It’s so painful to hear when some people are not here and you judge in that way,” he added later at another press conference.