Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino brands Pep Guardiola's 'Harry Kane team' comment as 'sad' and 'disrespectful'

Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
Jack Rosser @JackRosser_13 October 2017

Mauricio Pochettino has branded Pep Guardiola’s labelling of Tottenham as the ‘Harry Kane team’ as ‘sad’ and 'disrespectful'.

Speaking on his title rivals before the international break, the Manchester City manager list Chelsea and Manchester United before adding; “the Harry Kane team who scores every game two or three goals.”

When asked for his take on the comments, Pochettino seemed disappointed with his former La Liga adversary.

“It was funny when I heard him the other day because I know Pep very well.

“When it’s exciting after an amazing victory against Chelsea, sometimes [he] can struggle to keep his position and be a gentleman.

"I take that situation, that didn’t affect me but the reality is it was very disrespectful for many people and it’s difficult to understand because he was part of the big success at Barcelona with [Lionel] Messi at his best, and I never said it was ‘the Messi team’ - I always said it was Barcelona or Pep Guardiola.

“I think everyone deserves to be recognised as part of the success of the team. But I think many people took those words as very disrespectful for the club, and for many players that are here I think it’s a strange situation.

Pochettino never labelled Barcelona 'the Messi team' when at Espanyol
AFP/Getty Images

“In my case personally I didn’t take it in a bad way. It wasn’t disrespectful for myself.”

While many would expect Guardiola’s comments to rile the Spurs squad, Pochettino insists that his side laughed them off and will take no extra motivation from them.

"I think it's a sad comment because the players laugh about that,” Pochettino added.

“If you're a manager you must show more, no? To be above this type of comment.

"That is my opinion like I respect his opinion but I think the players, more motivated or less motivated? I think it's the same. It's sad and it's not right in football. Today we want to show respect, fair play and everything."

Manchester City are yet to beat Spurs under Guardiola and even lost 2-0 at White Hart Lane last term while Kane was out injured.