Tottenham players 'blame Mauricio Pochettino's training schedule' for poor start

Tottenham players are reportedly blaming their poor start to the season on Mauricio Pochettino ramping up the intensity of their training sessions.

Pochettino’s side host Watford today looking to bounce back from a 3-0 humbling at Brighton before the international break, with that defeat coming four days after a 7-2 home thrashing by Bayern Munich.

Tottenham are already 13 points off the pace in the Premier League, have just point from their opening two Champions League games and suffered an embarrassing Carabao Cup exit, losing on penalties after a 0-0 draw with League Two side Colchester United.

There has been talk that the squad have been affected by speculation over Pochettino’s future, with the boss having been linked with both Real Madrid and Manchester United in recent times and also coming under pressure due to results.

And the squad have also had to cope with a summer of transfer talk about players such as Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld who are all in the final year of their contracts.

But some players are blaming Spurs’ slump on the manager’s methods, according to the Mail .

The publication says players are unhappy over the increased intensity and duration of training sessions, and at the lack of time off.

Last Tuesday was many players’ first full day off since 2015, the Mail claims. And for England players Harry Winks and Harry Kane who were returning from the 6-0 win in Bulgaria on Monday night, Tuesday wasn’t even a full day off as the players did not arrive back from eastern Europe until the early hours of the morning.

Another bone of contention is said to be the new accommodation block at Tottenham’s training ground.

Since the opening of the block in May 2018, Pochettino has introduced overnight stays after European trips, followed by a warm-down the next day.

The Mail reports that the Tottenham players’ next day off is scheduled to be Monday, October 28 – the day after they face current Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.