Mauricio Pochettino says he will consider playing a less experienced side in the FA Cup next season following Tottenham’s semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
Spurs suffered their eighth straight FA Cup semi-final loss on Saturday, the longest such run in the history of the competition.
And having endured particularly painful defeats at this stage in each of the last two seasons, Pochettino has suggested taking the competition less seriously could be good for the club.
“Yes, I am thinking with Tottenham to play with kids the next time. I agree with you,” he told reporters after the game (via the Guardian).
“It is my job to be criticised when we don’t win. The problem is the perception sometimes is not realistic.
“But maybe next we will provide the possibility to play with kids and I’m sure it will be fantastic for experience and everything. Then we stop to arrive in this situation.”
I can understand Pochettino’s response to an extent. He is probably annoyed at the critical reaction to going out in the semi-final when others top sides – Arsenal and Liverpool for example – were eliminated in much earlier rounds.
Those teams avoid criticism despite their failure to reach the same stage as Tottenham. It’s similar to the situation when the league runners-up are ridiculed more intensely than the teams below them despite their achievement being greater.
All of that said, Spurs could really go with winning a trophy to prove their doubters wrong, and that’s not going to happen if Pochettino plays the kids next term.
What do you think of Pochettino’s words? Let us know in the comments.
After the debacle of last season’s semi final Son at left back, you might have thought tha Poch would have learned about playing the best team available.
The problem is that a FA cup win is not that marketable on his CV in Europe.
Harry was the same.
But hopefully Poch will understand better in the future.
BOYCOTT ALL CUP-TIES IN FUTURE LETS SEE IF AN EMPTY GROUND WILL RATTLE HES BRAIN I WONDER WHAT LEVY THINKS OF THAT ONE
League title most important , then europe. Then cups. Always has been. Win what u can when u can. Man city have 3 titles 1 fa cup & 3 league cups in last few years. It doesnt hinder it helps. Ask Fergie, Same with Howard Kendall.
Mmm. Thought about this all day. Full season of away games. Couple of games away from Champions League final having dominated the Group of Death. One game short of FA Cup final. One of the thinnest squads in the League. One of the lowest wage paying teams in the league. A manager who is sought by “the” legendary clubs in Europe. A squad which in the main punches way above its weight. Believe me I am disappointed, really feel for the team and manager. But I do believe that our time will come if we stay on this track. Best team and best Manager Tottenham have had for decades