London: Mauricio Pochettino says he has forgiven Danny Rose for comments that criticised Tottenham Hotspur’s lack of transfer activity and cast doubt upon his own future, and has stressed that he wants the left-back to stay at White Hart Lane.
Rose apologised on Friday afternoon for giving the interview, in which he said he wanted the club to avoid signing players “you have to Google”, and his manager said that all parties have moved on from a potentially disruptive situation on the eve of the new Premier League season.
“[The disruption was] more outside than in the club,” Pochettino said.
“The players were very calm. Sometimes you understand the frustration. It was his opinion and then he understood he needed to apologise. I forgive that. For me, let’s move on and try to get him fit as soon as possible.”
Asked whether Rose remained in his plans he replied: “Of course. Nothing changed my perception with him. The moment he apologised everyone moved on.”
Pochettino pointed out that Rose has been out since January with a knee injury that required surgery, suggesting that his words may have been the result of that lengthy layoff.
“I was a player, and sometimes after seven months not playing you are frustrated for different reasons,” he said.
“For me it’s not a big issue, it’s time to move on. It’s good for him to say that. It’s time to start a new season, it’s exciting.”
Any disciplinary action imposed upon Rose would be “a matter for the club”, Pochettino said.
He pointed out that no player is contracted to Tottenham against their will and that Rose is playing for them through his own volition.
“I respect all opinions, but when Daniel Levy made an offer for me to come here, no one forced me to sign,” he said.
“It’s like that for the player. No one forces him to sign a contract. We are here at Tottenham, no one forced him to sign and stay here, not making pressure to make that happen. It’s important to understand we are here because we want to be here.”
Tottenham are yet to make a first-team signing this summer; Pochettino said that will not be the case by the end of the transfer window but that any deals may be completed as late as the final day. He accepted that Tottenham have to go about their business in “a different way” to several of their title rivals.
“If you see the last five years, Tottenham always spend money and sign players at the end of the transfer window,” he said.
“I don’t understand why it is a big issue now. We are so calm. The team is ready to compete.
“Of course we will sign [players], like every season, maybe on the last day. We will sign players we believe can help us challenge for the things we want to challenge for.
“We are so competitive and so ambitious. It’s a big challenge for us to make Tottenham a winning team and build a strong mentality to challenge the big sides like United and City who are spending a lot of money. When you see our philosophy and the way we work it’s so exciting. Why not try to win in a different way to [what] the others believe? We have to be unique and try to be strong, and not have doubts when others have doubts and are nervous. We are calm and relaxed; we will see at the end of the season if we are right or wrong.”
Tottenham open their Premier League season at Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon. In the continued absence of Rose and with Kieran Trippier newly sidelined, the 20-year-old defender Kyle Walker-Peters could make his debut for the club.
