Tottenham Hotspur’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, wants rival Premier League managers to show some respect after Chelsea’s Antonio Conte questioned the north London side’s ambition before the new season.
Earlier in the week Conte said it would not be a “tragedy” if Tottenham failed to lift trophies next season, as their expectations are not the same as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.
“I am not a manager who likes to speak about another club, another manager,” Pochettino said before Tottenham’s pre-season match against City in Nashville on Saturday. “I like to show respect. I expect the same from the people who compete with us.
“For different clubs who have spent a lot of money, the expectation and pressure is massive. For us it is the same. It is our own pressure and ambition.”
Spurs have come close to clinching their first top division league title since 1961, finishing third then second in the last two seasons. But they last won a major trophy in 2008, when they beat Chelsea to lift the League Cup.
England’s top division clubs have spent just over £1bn on transfers since the end of last season but Spurs remain the only side yet to sign a player. Pochettino said they would rather wait for the right moment in the current window.
“Our moment will arrive,” Pochettino added. “We are calm because our squad is competitive. We have a plan. We have a very clear idea of what we want.
“There are a lot of rumours about the big sides spending money and it looks like Tottenham is not ambitious. I want to tell our fans, ‘Don’t be worried’ because we will move in the market.“
Spurs open their league campaign at Newcastle United on 13 August.
