MAURICIO POCHETTINO has jetted to Qatar on a break he admits Spurs need from their alarming start to the season. The Tottenham chief might see the irony in a pre-planned trip to the Aspire Global Summit on football performance after losing 7-2 at home to Bayern Munich and 3-0 at Brighton. But he believes the […]
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has jetted to Qatar on a break he admits Spurs need from their alarming start to the season.
The Tottenham chief might see the irony in a pre-planned trip to the Aspire Global Summit on football performance after losing 7-2 at home to Bayern Munich and 3-0 at Brighton.
But he believes the international break has arrived at the perfect time “to change the air, dynamic and energy” as Spurs sit just ninth in the Premier League.
Pochettino and assistant Jesus Perez have left coaches Toni Jimenez and Miguel D’Agostino in charge until they return on Thursday.
But most senior players are away for internationals, including England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Friday and Bulgaria three days later.
And Poch, who was scheduled to give a summit talk on boosting performance today, insists he can take all the criticism coming his way after being “punched” in the last two games.
He said: “After five-and-a-half-years, the last five days we really were punched, in football terms, 7-2 and 3-0.
“The most important thing now is to have two weeks to try to be clear, to find a solution.
“The pundits on television need to talk and they need to give their opinion. I need to accept all criticism.
“After five-and-a-half-years, it’s the first time that it is a really difficult situation.
“It is an experience we are going to use to be stronger and be wiser… We can bounce back.”
But the Argentinian seems like to be without France keeper Hugo Lloris for several weeks.
Lloris dislocated his elbow in an agonising fall that forced him off in the eighth minute at Brighton.
The 32-year-old will be assessed by Spurs medics after being released from hospital and attending the training ground.
But initial reports suggest Lloris could be sidelined for two months.
That leaves one-cap Argentinian Paulo Gazzaniga, 27, and rookie 20-year-old Alfie Whiteman as Tottenham’s senior keepers.
