MAURICIO POCHETTINO insists his remarks that “football is about trying to trick your opponent” did not condone diving.
After Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Liverpool on the weekend, Pochettino implied diving is a “minimal issue” and Alli is a “clever boy” for doing so.
In the manager’s press conference before Saturday’s north London derby, he confirmed that he wasn’t saying diving is acceptable and the language barrier played a part.
He references a situation during the the 2002 World Cup when Michael Owen went down under a challenge from Poch himself, leading to a penalty which David Beckham converted.
Pochettino said: “It’s true that in that moment I didn’t know English, I didn’t talk English and I didn’t hear the comments.
“But today we are so sensitive about details and sometimes it is difficult for me, because when you are honest and you try to explain the things – and my language is not English – it is hard to be right in my words.”
The Argentinian then confirmed: “Don’t feel the limits to try to – not cheat – but trick the opponent in a good way. That is how I feel about football. I am not going to change, that is my opinion.”
His side welcome Arsenal to Wembley on Saturday in a crunch match for the top four places.
Tottenham currently sit in fifth place, four points ahead of their north London rivals, and a win for the Gunners would put them a point behind.
Arsene Wenger’s side have a stellar record at Wembley, since losing in the League Cup final to Birmingham in 2011 – they have won nine games on the bounce at Spurs’ temporary home.
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