The Arsenal boss made disparaging comments about Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool this week.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino addressed the media today, ahead of his side’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Newport County on Saturday, and delivered a bullish response to Arsene Wenger’s recent derogatory comments pertaining to Tottenham’s failure to win trophies, as quoted by popular football news website Football.London.
Tottenham have not won a major trophy since their EFL Cup triumph in 2008, and have not won a league title since 1961.
Arsenal meanwhile, have won three FA Cups in the last four years, and have won six league titles since Spurs last won the league.
Wenger criticised the media this week for praising teams who have won nothing recently, and many took his comments as a swipe at Tottenham and Liverpool.
Pochettino responded in emphatic fashion today, however, when addressing the media, and insisted that his side deserve praise for the manner in which they have gone about their business over the past couple of years, as quoted by Football.London:
“I respect Wenger and because I respect a lot and because of that I don’t want to say nothing. I am so young and I’ve only been in the Premier League for five years. Praise of course we receive because football is not only winning trophies, it’s the circumstances of different clubs. For me he is one of the best managers in the world. I respect him but I think he needs to talk about himself and Arsenal. I remember I always say five years in the same club you are a good manager, ten years because you’re fantastic, 20 because you’re unbelievable and special. For me he’s a special manager. Sometimes people make mistakes and I think it’s a mistake to talk about us or different things.”
Wenger’s comments will surely fire up the Spurs players, and with the north London derby just over two weeks away, be sure to expect fireworks at Wembley, as the two bitter rivals go head to head once again.
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