Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has now hit back at Antonio Conte’s opinion that Tottenham had an advantage in the title race, accentuating that Chelsea splurged huge cash which guided them to Premier League triumph.
Chelsea are now the English Premier League champions of 2016-17 with two games to spare, after they edged out West Bromwich Albion 1-0 on Friday evening.
Michy Batshuayi came off the bench to hit the winner in the 82nd minute to give manager Antonio Conte his first Premier League title in his first season as manager of the Blues.
Conte had earlier suggested that Spurs had an upper hand over his side as Pochettino was in his third season at the White Hart Lane, whereas this was his debut campaign in England.
But Pochettino contradicted Conte’s suggestion and said that Chelsea’s huge spending in the transfer market have helped them to clinch the title.
Pochettino said: “I understand him. It’s difficult for him because he was always a manager who liked to work with and to develop young talent.”
“It’s difficult when you sign for a club like Chelsea and you have the pressure to win and you spend the money that they spent on David Luiz, Marcos Alonso, Batshuayi and [N’Golo] Kante. I totally understand but I don’t know if I agree with him that it’s an advantage.”
“[Arsenal manager] Arsene Wenger should win the league every season because he is 20 years in charge, if that is the right way to measure our advantage. I think it’s not fair to measure with me, as it is to measure with Wenger. Twenty years is a massive advantage. Why not win every season?”
“It’s not a criticism [of Wenger]. It was not the best comment from him [Conte].”
Spurs are now set to lock horns with Manchester United on Saturday and a victory would guarantee them a the second spot in the Premier League for the first time in their footballing history.
It would also be their last match at the White Hart Lane before it is demolished for making their new 61,000-seater stadium – which is set to be completed by the 2018-19 season.
Pochettino said: “I am very sensitive person and so emotional, so it will be difficult not to cry. I think for the fans it means a lot but in the same way – and I don’t want to be wrong – I think our fans are so excited to welcome the new stadium, too.”
“That doesn’t mean they are happy it is the end of White Hart Lane, but that they are excited towards the progress. They are excited to the future of the club. Be sure it will be very, very emotional but at the same time it will be very, very exciting to welcome the new stadium.”