Pep Guardiola branded 'sad' and 'very disrespectful' by Mauricio Pochettino in extraordinary rant as he reveals Tottenham fury at rival calling them 'the Harry Kane team'
- Mauricio Pochettino has attacked Pep Guardiola in a withering tirade
- The Manchester City manager had called Tottenham 'the Harry Kane team'
- Pochettino repeatedly called Guardiola's comments about Kane 'sad'
- The Spurs boss said his players were laughing about it but his staff were angry
- Guardiola made remarks while discussing title rivals after recent City win
- BETTING GUIDE: Liverpool vs Man United special, plus Kane in a 22/1 double
Mauricio Pochettino has hit out at Pep Guardiola, branding the Manchester City manager ‘sad’ and ‘disrespectful’ for referring to Tottenham as ‘the Harry Kane team’.
The Spurs boss also said he expected better from someone who built his own coaching reputation with a Barcelona team dominated by the brilliance of Lionel Messi.
‘It was very disrespectful for many people,’ fumed Pochettino, who knows Guardiola well after working in Barcelona as a player and manager of Espanyol.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been taken to task by Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino, with Harry Kane at training this week, revealed Tottenham's anger at Guardiola
Kane picked up the player of the month award for September (left) before training Friday
‘I didn’t take it badly but many players here thought it was a strange situation and for a lot of people, it was unnecessary to say that.
‘It is difficult to understand because Pep was part of the big success at Barcelona when it was Messi at his best.
‘When people told me about it, I said, “No, it’s not possible”. Why? Because if you are in Barcelona and you have Messi in your team there is a temptation to say you won because of Messi. I never said it was the Messi team. I always said it was Barcelona and with respect to the manager.
‘When people said, “Nah, it’s Messi” I said, “No, no, no. Messi is one of the best but Guardiola is a great manager”.
‘Everyone deserves to be recognised as being part of the success of the team. That’s why it surprised me and made me sad. After a great win at Chelsea, he then says the “Harry Kane team”.’
Pochettino, with Hugo Lloris, took charge of training before aiming his shot at Guardiola
Guardiola picked up his own manager of the month award along with his backroom team
Kane had scored twice in Tottenham’s 4-0 win at Huddersfield in the lunchtime kick-off, lifting Spurs into third place. City later won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and when asked about his team’s early-season form and title hopes Guardiola replied: ‘It is only September. We still have Manchester United and the Harry Kane team. But it’s important to show we can play like that.’
Pochettino said: ‘He was excited after an amazing victory and sometimes he struggles to keep his position and be a gentleman.
‘Why did he show too much respect to Manchester United? He could have said the Romelu Lukaku team. It is a sad comment. It is good for no one.’
There appears to be bad blood developing between Guardiola and Pochettino
Pochettino said he expected a call from Guardiola to apologise for the Kane remarks
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