I think we cannot justify that [but] we can understand it.
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Last year Jose Mourinho suggested the Belgian winger, who is expected to start at Sunderland on Saturday, could be in line for the Ballon d’Or at one point but Hiddink distanced the player from talk of that prize after his return to form. We show big character. We crossed the line, maybe yes.
“In coaching we always think that we make this player, we discover that player”. We want to be aggressive, yes, we want controlled aggression, passion, desire, commitment, yes. We showed passion. Maybe too much passion. I think this season we have created a very good feeling, a good energy, between our supporters, our staff and our players. But we need to take it in a positive way.
On the post-match incidents, he insisted Fabregas did not have a major role, adding: “I worked in the Latin world and there’s a lot of pushing there”. All the people who play football know this situation can happen.
“Within the rules of sportsmanship you have to play”.
“When you run and you go for the title, it is hard sometimes to keep calm”.
Sam Allardyce has warned Sunderland not to do a Tottenham and “lose the plot” as they attempt to strike a major blow in the fight for Barclays Premier League survival against Chelsea.
“We shook hands and we were very calm after the game”.
With a title tilt now firmly over, for this season at least, Tottenham will be looking to secure a top two finish, with all three points against a buoyant Southampton side under the guidance of Dutch legend Ronald Koeman.
Pochettino and his players have previously brushed aside the comments but the Spurs head coach admitted on Friday he felt they were inappropriate, and said he would raise the issue at the next meeting of Premier League managers.
However, former Arsenal striker Wright warned Tottenham’s Premier League title rivals that Spurs will be even better in next season’s title race.
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Arsenal’s failure to chase down Leicester, and their likely finish below Tottenham for the first time since 1995 has caused a rift between loyalists of manager Arsene Wenger and those fans demanding change. We have our own challenge. “We want to play well, win trophies and perform well but this is not important for us”.
