Mauricio Pochettino hits back at Antonio Conte

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino demands “more respect” after Conte’s comments on Harry Kane

Mauricio Pochettino responded to Antonio Conte’s comment on Harry Kane in a press conference demanding more respect from his Chelsea counterpart.

The Spurs boss looks from pleased from Conte’s comments on the Spurs striker. Conte rates him as one of the best strikers and a dream signing. 

Antonio Conte spoke about his admiration for Harry Kane a few days earlier. 

Conte on Kane and Spurs

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte expressed his admiration for the top striker in Singapore where Chelsea are on pre-season tour. 

Conte believes that Kane is one of the best strikers in the world and if he had to buy one striker it would be Kane.

When he was questioned about Tottenham’s title ambitions, Conte said: “Tottenham is a really good squad if they are able to keep all the players.” He went on to talk about his admiration for the English striker.

“For me, Kane, now, is one of the best strikers in the world.”

“If I had to buy one striker I would go to Kane. He is a complete striker. He is strong physically, with the ball, without the ball, he fights and he’s strong in the air and acrobatic on the right and the left. He’s a complete player. He’s one of the top strikers in the world.”

“If you go to buy Kane now it would be at least £100m. At least. For me, if I see this price for a striker I know for sure he’s a big striker.”

Conte also talks about Tottenham’s title challenge. He also responded to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy’s claim. Levy said that this summer’s transfer spending is “unsustainable” by insisting Chelsea are under far greater pressure to succeed than their London rivals.

“My question is this: what are Tottenham’s expectations? If they don’t win the title, it’s not a tragedy. If they don’t arrive in the Champions League, it’s not a tragedy,” he said.

“If they go out in the first round of the Champions League it’s not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League and go down against Gent, it is not a tragedy.

“Maybe for Chelsea, Arsenal, City, United and – I don’t know – Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand this.

“I think Tottenham were very good and I think Pochettino is a very good manager and the club is a very good club. But in this season, you built something important. You never won.”

While Conte was probably only showing his admiration for Harry Kane and speaking what he felt like. But his comments have not gone down well with the Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Mauricio Pochettino responds

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has demanded “more respect” from his Chelsea counterpart Antonio Conte.

After Chelsea boss’ recent comments about Harry Kane and Spurs’ title challenge, Mauricio Pochettino has called it laughable and questioned Conte for talking about his players and club.

“That makes me laugh because I don’t know why people are so focused on our players and our club,” said Pochettino.

“At the moment, so far we know him best.

“Our ambition is not the same as a lot of clubs that sign and spend a lot of money.

“I respect every single philosophy and, for me, the most important thing is to show more respect.

“I like to show respect to another way and the people that behave in another way, only I expect the same from the people that compete with us.

The Spurs fans have been desperate to see a new signing this summer. Thus, the Argentine has reassured them to not to be worried as new signings may be made.

“We are calm but we have a very clear idea of who we want and what we need to do to achieve our target,” he added.

“I want to say to our fans ‘don’t be worried’ because today there are a lot of rumours around.

“We will move on the market, sure, and we will be competitive like last season, sure.”

Mauricio Pochettino will be entering his 4th season at the club. He will be looking to one up this time after they finished runners up last season to Chelsea. The hotshot managers have started their battles off the pitch. It will be very enticing to see who wins the battles on the pitch to ultimately win the War of the Premier League.