Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino hits back at Chelsea manager Antonio Conte for questioning ambition: 'I am respectful of other players and clubs'

  • Mauricio Pochettino has responded to Tottenham coming under scrutiny
  • Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho have both spoke openly about Spurs
  • But the Argentine hit back, saying talk about his club 'makes me laugh'
  • Pochettino was not drawn into the discussion, saying he respected other clubs

Mauricio Pochettino struck back at Antonio Conte after the Chelsea manager questioned Tottenham’s ambition.

Both Jose Mourinho and Conte have both spoken openly about Spurs over the last week but Pochettino’s frustration is fixed on the latter, who even placed a price tag on striker Harry Kane.

Conte went on to suggest Spurs could only challenge for the title ‘if they keep their best players’.

Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at Antonio Conte after he questioned his side's ambition

Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at Antonio Conte after he questioned his side's ambition

The Chelsea boss said Spurs could only challenge for titles ¿if they keep their best players¿

The Chelsea boss said Spurs could only challenge for titles ‘if they keep their best players’

‘It made me laugh because I don’t know why other people are so focused on my players and our club,’ Pochettino, who is yet to sign any new faces this summer, said.


‘I respect every single opinion. I am so respectful of other players, other clubs, other managers, the owners of different clubs.

‘I’m not a manager who likes to speak about other clubs or managers or what happens in their corner. I’m trying to provide the best tools to compete and try to win because that’s our mentality.’

Conte also fired a barb towards Tottenham at the end of last season when he raised doubt over their standing within the Premier League’s elite. 

Conte also went as far as to put a £100m price tag on Spurs' star striker Harry Kane

Conte also went as far as to put a £100m price tag on Spurs' star striker Harry Kane

Another trophyless year would ¿not be a tragedy¿ for Spurs, said the Italian

Another trophyless year would ‘not be a tragedy’ for Spurs, said the Italian

And his latest put down, claiming another trophyless season would ‘not be a tragedy’ for Spurs, has left Pochettino flabbergasted ahead of Saturday's final pre-season game against Manchester City in Nashville.

‘It’s true for different clubs when they spend a lot of money the expectation and pressure is massive but it’s the same for us because it’s our own pressure and our own ambition,’ Pochettino added.

‘I respect every single philosophy and for me the most important thing is to show more respect. I like to show respect to people that behave another way only I expect the same from people that compete with us.

‘I think it’s important to keep calm, respect every opinion. You don’t need to start to talk about another club because it’s most important to be focused on your club.’

The barb left Pochettino flabbergasted and he demanded opposition to show more respect

The barb left Pochettino flabbergasted and he demanded opposition to show more respect