Poch goes on 754-word rant when asked about Alderweireld

Mauricio Pochettino really does not want to be asked any more questions about Toby Alderweireld’s Tottenham future.

Alderweireld made his first Premier League start of the season in the 3-1 victory over Fulham at the weekend, having been ostracised from the first team last season.

The centre-half made just 13 Premier League starts as speculation continued to intensify over his future, with contract negotiations coming to a head.

A move to Manchester United seemed inevitable but failed to materialise before the Premier League’s transfer deadline earlier this month.

But Pochettino appeared to offer an olive branch by playing the Belgian for the full 90 minutes against Fulham, where Tottenham maintained their perfect start.

The Tottenham manager was clearly frustrated to be asked about the player’s future however, embarking on a lengthy rant after one journalist wondered whether Alderweireld was part of his plans for the season.

“Look, this season I am not going to talk….look, many things happened and are going to happen and happened in the past,” he said.

“I am not going to talk, because that is a private matter. Only I am going to talk about what you saw on the pitch, about the performance, about decisions. It’s obviously that like I explained in the press conference. I’m not going to talk about it.

“I told you the players that have the possibility to stay here, I do not talk about him, I talk in general always

“I want player commitment with the team. Players that are not happy, from my point of view, everyone can leave. Then it’s different if they can negotiate with Daniel [Levy] and be agreed.

“But for me I want players who are fully committed with the team and want to fight for the team. The players that are here are all committed. Not one told me today that they wanted to find a solution. That is why I’m not going to make any comment about that situation because you know it’s so…everyone can have their opinion and it’s a lot of parts in different situations that can give or provide different information.

“The only information and the only truth that I can translate to our fans is from myself. Today I am so open to listen to players if they want to leave. But if they are going to be here I want all commitment. If not, tomorrow we can find a solution.

“But I told you, it’s not to say ‘Gaffer, you are so aggressive in your position’. I am so tired about talk of this. If some players want or some players are not happy, I understand that if some players don’t play they can be disappointed.

“But the rules in football. Look, you created football. You created the rules. It’s only 11 players. Why didn’t the English players in the past put 22 or 24 players playing against 22 or 24? Why is the squad 25 players if you can only play 11? Why not rules like in basketball where you can change one minute, five minutes in, out? Why not in Italy all on the bench and you don’t need to give a list of 18 if you have 25 in the squad? Oh, many, many things that..come on. I am so tired of that. I want to enjoy football.

“If I am here, I’m in my position like a manager because the club trusts in my decision, not because I am so handsome. Maybe that too but…

“No, but look, for me it’s wasting time and wasting time and wasting time and you lose the opportunity maybe to improve or challenge for big things. I understand every single situation, I understand agents, I understand everything that football becomes a business, a big business too and protect their asset and duh duh duh, daa daa, doo doo too.

“It’s a lot of things that I can say, but I promise you I’m not going to waste time talking about individual situations. Who’s not happy we have the possibility to fix? If not professional, contract, every week or every month the club pay on the 28th the salary. The player when they sign a contract they sign to be available to be selected by the manager.

“But when they sign they sign to show the manager in training that they deserve to play. The manager can have some predilection, maybe to play with three at the back or four or five. Look, players who don’t play they need to wait, if I’m going to be sacked or if someone, or another, finds another solution.

“Look, you know better than me, but it’s wasting time like this. It’s not going to change. You’re not going to put pressure on me, or put pressure on my decision. Nobody is going to blackmail me. The club is not going to put pressure on me or if not I go home. Look, many things can happen. Sorry for giving you this situation, but I am so… I want to enjoy football, I promise you.

“When I started playing football it was because I loved the emotions that translated with the ball. When I started my career as a manager it was to provide the players with the tools to play and enjoy football on the pitch. But sometimes it is so tough, but that is part of my job too, I understand.”