Tottenham Hotspur manager, Mauricio Pochettino has apologised to Manchester United over the tough tackles from his team during Thursday’s International Champions Cup game.
Angel Gomes hit a late winner for United after Lucas Moura’s deflected shot cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener in China.
Eric Bailly hurt his knee trying to block a shot from Son Heung-min while Moussa Sissoko appeared to stamp on United’s new winger, Daniel James, in the first half.
And Pochettino acknowledged his side were perhaps overly aggressive in their 2-1 defeat.
“I was a little bit annoyed about some situations, I was not happy.
“It was a friendly game and in some situations of course when you are tired, when it’s so hot you are not right with the tempo to arrive at the actions, sometimes you arrive late and something can happen.
“I apologise on behalf of our players to Manchester United,” he told reporters.
Pochettino added: “It wasn’t their intention, but sometimes when you are tired you arrive late and some things can happen.
“And I was worried because in this period of preparation it is sometimes you need to be aggressive and you need to play with passion but sometimes the focus is to build your fitness and develop the way you want to play.
“Of course I was worried, Manchester United, Eric Bailly got injured and I am sorry for that but he was alone.
“And always when the players start to build their fitness and start to fight for their place in the team, when something happens in the pre-season it’s always tough and I was a little bit worried, but in the second half the game was a bit more relaxed.”
Comentarios