Pochettino: Europa League sapped us

Mauricio Pochettino has blamed Tottenham’s lunchtime lethargy this season on the Europa League campaign.

Of 10 Barclays Premier League matches kicking off at 1200, 1245 or 1330, Spurs have won two – against QPR last August and Arsenal in February – collecting nine points out of a possible 30.

Six of the matches followed Europa League games on Thursday nights, and Spurs lost four of those and drew the other two.

Pochettino, whose side play his former club Southampton at 1245 at St Mary’s on Saturday, said: “Maybe this is a coincidence. Or maybe this is because we play Thursday around Europe and have no recovery.

“I don’t know. It’s difficult to understand why. Maybe it’s because we have played Thursday night and spent a lot of energy.”

Spurs have fared better in later kick-offs.

Pochettino said: “Maybe three or four hours more of recovery is better. That can affect that.”

The matches were:

1200 kick-off:

Man Utd H (December 28) D 0-0

West Ham H (February 22) D 2-2*

1245 kick-off

Man City A (October 18) L 4-1

Arsenal H (February 7) W 2-1

1330 kick-off

QPR H (August 24) W 4-0*

Liverpool H (August 31) L 3-0*

West Brom H (September 21) L 1-0*

Newcastle H (October 26) L 2-1*

Stoke H (November 9) L 2-1

Burnley A (April 5) D 0-0

*Indicates followed a Europa League match

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