“I think that is the big example of what we are doing with Southampton in two seasons”, Koeman said. He said he could understand but not justify Dembele’s aggression but disputed whether the midfielder’s actions were as bad as a potentially leg-breaking tackle.
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Last year’s PFA Player of the Season, Eden Hazard, openly said that he would not like Tottenham to win the highly coveted trophy.
Carlton Cole (left) of West Ham United watches as goal keeper Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur stops the ball during their English Premier League match at Upton Park in London, May 3, 2014.
‘When you are professional, not give your opinion, your personal opinion, if I support Tottenham, play against some team which fights for the title or to survive then I can’t give my opinion like a supporter. For me, they’ve got to give their all for this game if they can. We cross the line maybe yes, I’m not stupid. We need to manage it in a better way and try to win the title. We need to play, be honest and show integrity and be professional always.
Pochettino has played a settled back four ever since Jan Vertonghen made his return from a knee injury last month and I don’t expect that to change despite the North Londoners conceding twice against Chelsea on Monday night.
Nine Spurs players were booked at Chelsea, a Premier League record, and Pochettino was caught up in the scuffling when he went onto the pitch as peacemaker to keep Willian and Danny Rose apart after a clash just before half-time.
The ill discipline has led to calls from Spurs commentators for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to be relieved of the captaincy next term, to allow a more vocal, outfield, player take control over a talented but young team. For me this was a really good game to test us and to learn – a good lesson for the future.
This week, chairman of the Football Association (FA) Greg Dyke revealed Spurs could play Champions League matches at Wembley next season, and use the 90,000-seater venue as a temporary home while their new stadium is being built.
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“It is a big achievement for everybody that still we are fighting for Europe because that is what we wanted, our ambition at the beginning of the season”. We are in the top four.
