English Fans Googled My Name When I First Came – Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino did not see anything funny about Danny Rose’s jibe that he has had to “Google” some of Tottenham’s signings, and the manager claimed he has no say in what the left-back and his remaining players get as salary.

Rose stunned the footballing world in an explosive interview in which he said he is worth more than Tottenham are paying him and would consider an offer from another club. The 27-year-old also begged the club, which is yet to make a summer signing, to buy big-name players — and “not players you have to Google.”

Pochettino said “That is not a joke. When you sign players like Eric Dier, who are internationals today, nobody knew him. Or Dele Alli who was in League One or Kante. I don’t think it’s a matter to joke about because with some of the international players today, maybe one or two years ago, none of us knew them very well,” Pochettino said.

“And when I first arrived here [in England], people wanted to know who Mauricio Pochettino [was] too. If you remember five years ago, people said ‘who is Pochettino?’ I’m sure they used Chrome or Google or Yahoo to find out!

“But the problem with that was that straight away [the results] was the penalty against Michael Owen [in England’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2002 World Cup]. That situation killed me! But it’s ok — look now!”

“You need to understand that he [Rose] gave his opinion,” he continued. “And then to know that you need to ask every single player if they are happy or not happy. I don’t understand why I have to answer this question because the player has [shown] regret and has apologised for that he said regarding everything.

“I’m relaxed because when you see the team and players they are so focused,” he added. “We were focused from the beginning of preseason to challenge and try again to prepare ourselves to compete in a very tough league, I think the toughest league in the world. When you see the team so relaxed and so calm and focused to prepare for the game on Sunday that is the most important thing for me to feel. If I feel that why can I be nervous?

“I think the team are very united. You [the press] have access to the other players so you can ask them. I have no doubt about the team.”