SO we know from Mauricio Pochettino’s inability to keep the cat in the bag that he has received a touchline ban from the FA.
The only question now is the number of matches he will have to spend in the stands following his on-the-field rant at Mike Dean at the end of Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat at Burnley last month.
Reuters
Reuters
Many believe the Spurs boss should and only will be banned from the dugout for his team’s return to his old club Southampton on Saturday.
After all, he later issued a public apology to Dean for his Turf Moor tirade.
But Pochettino’s clear anger at the ban when he let it foolishly let it slip during his post-match Press after Tottenham had sealed their place in the last eight of Champions League with a 1-0 victory at Borussia Dortmund last night suggests it could well be a two-match touchline suspension.
And that would mean he would also be in stands for his team’s crucial trip to Liverpool on March 31.
That would be a disaster for Pochettino and could hit Tottenham’s bid to finish in the top four again this season.
Third-placed Spurs have already seen their gap to rivals Arsenal in fifth shrink from 10 points to four in a little over a week.
And with Manchester United just three points behind in fourth, Pochettino would want to be coaching his team from dugout when they travel to Anfield.
Sky Sports
Reuters
Spurs fans might wonder if their manager’s previous good record has been taken into consideration.
Well, it may well have been as he was given a Grade 1 warning for misconduct after gesturing wildly at ref Anthony Taylor and his officials during Tottenham’s first home game of the season, a 3-1
victory over Fulham in August.
He was also warned about his future conduct after becoming the first manager to be charged by the FA under new rules introduced this season.
It is likely this was considered by the FA when handing out Pochettino’s latest punishment.
We shall find out how the length of the ban at 10am.
