Cascarino says Tottenham’s Pochettino deserves equal criticism as Jose Mourinho

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Tottenham boss criticised for lack of ambition against Manchester United.

Tony Cascarino has told The Times that Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino deserves to be criticised after his cautious approach at Old Trafford.

Spurs slipped to a 1-0 defeat through an Anthony Martial goal, with their game plan affected by an injury to star striker Harry Kane.

Tottenham started with Heung-Min Son up front instead of Fernando Llorente, and Cascarino believes that just like Jose Mourinho was criticised for his negative gameplan when Manchester United took on Liverpool, Pochettino also let himself down.

He said: “When José Mourinho set up Manchester United with a defensive style and took a point against Liverpool we were all disappointed and the United manager was criticised.

“So why when Mauricio Pochettino goes to Old Trafford and doesn’t play a striker do we not question the Tottenham manager?

“Yes, they were without Harry Kane but they have Fernando Llorente, an experienced and talented target man, but instead Pochettino plays Son Heung-min who is not a leading man.”

Part of the problem for Pochettino is that Llorente has looked below par in his appearances so far, failing to trouble Barnsley or West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

Son performed well as a striker last season when preferred to Vincent Janssen, and it is understandable why Pochettino opted for the South Korean.

Spurs were very close to taking the lead late before Martial’s goal, with Dele Alli prodding a close range effort wide.

If that had gone in, then Pochettino may have been lauded for a tactical masterclass, instead he finds himself criticised once again.