Pochettino: no problem with 'fuming' Rose

Nov 23, 2017 - 5:13 PM Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has played down talk of a rift with fullback Danny Rose after the England international was left out of the defeat to Arsenal.

Reports claimed Rose was "fuming" about his omission last week, and while Pochettino said the 27-year-old, who has been linked with a move away from the club, had not been happy the player had accepted the decision.

"He never showed that feeling to me," Pochettino said.

"The day before we had a conversation and he never showed me that he was angry. Of course, disappointed, yes, because all the players always want to be involved in the game.

"I understand if after he was angry, like other players who do not play, and I like it when players feel that emotion because it looks like they're interested in helping the team and want to play."

Pochettino, whose side responded to the Arsenal defeat in style by beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 to top their Champions League group above Real Madrid on Tuesday, said it was not just Rose who missed out.

"He was normal, his behaviour. You can ask me about him or (Georges-Kevin) Nkoudou, who wasn't involved, or Paulo Gazzaniga or Kieran Trippier or Ben Davies," the manager said.

"If you say they were upset? Of course. They were disappointed? Of course.

"But I am the boss. That is the problem for the players."

Tottenham will hope to recover some lost ground after their Arsenal defeat as they face West Brom at Wembley on Saturday, who this week sacked their manager Tony Pulis.

Fourth-placed Tottenham are 11 points behind leaders Manchester City, but the Argentine is not giving up on his side's title prospects.

"It's true Manchester City have created a gap in between us that is big. But you never know in football," he said.

"There's still a chance. If you see the gap in the Premier League you need to reduce it, you need to win, win, win and they need to lose."

Source: AAP