Mauricio Pochettino is not a manager who is renowned for getting angry and aggressive, and it’s hard to think of a time where he’s ever lost his cool in a press conference. However, after his side’s 3-1 win over Leicester on Sunday the Argentine was close to losing his rag at Michael Oliver after the officials display and it’s easy to see why.
Poch did not hold back. https://t.co/YLLEGD45BT
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) February 10, 2019
You can read all of Pochettino’s comments on football.london, where Alasdair Gold documented the entire press conference from the gaffer after the win. It’s easy to understand where Pochettino is coming from on this one though. Heung-Min Son was booked for simulation in the first half when there was clear contact from Harry Maguire and the South Korean was already on the way down having been off balance.
The Lilywhites would have understood had Oliver waved it away and deemed there to not have been enough contact, but to book the player is something else. Then, at the other end, Oliver was quick to blow for a Leicester penalty when James Maddison went down under pressure from Jan Vertonghen in a very similar incident. It’s easier to understand Poch’s frustrations, and whilst his players may have been cautioned for diving before, he was fuming with this one.
You can read the Lilywhites’ reaction to Pochettino’s comments here:
Disgraceful refereeing performance.
— Daniel Shack (@Daniel_Shack) February 10, 2019
First time I can remember Poch critical of a ref.
— NotSoSkinnyPete (@NotSoSkinnyPete) February 10, 2019
He shouldn’t be left ref a game again at this level shocking decisions throughout not just for Sons penalty and yellow card. There are refs in the lower leagues a lot better than this guy. Poch had every right to call him out #COYS
— Aidan (@Aidan1980) February 10, 2019
Oliver is clearly a bin dipper fan ain’t he
— Tim wells (@caysiesienna2) February 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/colesypontyboy/status/1094719401444720641
The ref was very biased against Tottenham today, and when you consider he denied us a clear penalty v Liverpool, it is very strange….
— Dorps (@N17Dorps) February 10, 2019
Had to be a poor ref performance,the fact poch mentioned it….he never berates refs
— paul tracey (@paultracey123) February 10, 2019
Utterly abysmal refereeing performance
— Duke (@chippy_the_guv) February 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/mccullocha/status/1094680334996787201
The Lilywhites will be hoping they can get through the rest of the season without Michael Oliver in charge of any of their games and who can blame them after Sunday.
