Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been left fuming over the situation he finds himself in ahead of what he deems to be too early of a start to the Premier League season.
Spurs are currently embarking on their pre-season tour of the United States of America as they prepare to get back to domestic action in August, but are missing a handful of star names after the World Cup in Russia.
The likes of England stars Harry Kane, Keiran Trippier and Eric Dier are all away on their break after international duty, joined by their counterparts from France and Belgium, and with some of them set to return just days before Pochettino’s men kick off their top flight campaign at Newcastle, the boss is raging that the Premier League have not followed suit of other countries.
He told the London Evening Standard: “The players need to rest, the players need a period to recover after more than 10 months’ competition.
“I’m not going to complain about them having that. I completely understand that they need 20 or 21 days to be away from football. But of course that is a massive disadvantage because to prepare the season in that way will be tough for them and us.
“We cannot delete the start of the season. We start earlier than other leagues and countries. There’s nothing I can do.”
Opinion
Pochettino has every right to complain about the Premier League’s decision not to delay the start of the season – although no one would have been expecting England to do as well as they did over in Russia. Spurs will be one of the clubs most affected by the international competition, with so many of the first team squad having been on duty with their countries. With Pochettino having been a crucial factor in the development of some of England’s top stars, he might well think he is owed a little something back from the Premier League – but apparently not. Instead he seems set to have to rely on either tired players like Harry Kane, or give the chance for some fringe figures to try and clip the Magpies’ wings when they head to St James’ Park for the opening game of the season. Either way, it is not ideal for the Lilywhites – will they suffer as a result come the end of the campaign?