Pochettino speaks out on squad taking him out for dinner last night

Tottenham Hotspur manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has been under some pressure this season after his side have failed to perform consistently across all competitions.

Despite winning 5-0 in midweek against Red Star Belgrade, the Lilywhites have taken just four wins from 13 games all season.

Not only this, but some of Spurs’ losses have come in embarrassing fashion, including the back-to-back defeats at the hands of Bayern Munich (7-2) and Brighton (3-0).

However, any rumours of the players not being fully behind the manager may have been put to bed this morning when pictures emerged of the squad going out for dinner together.

Poch revealed last week that the players had extended an invite to him and his staff to go out to dinner, claiming that it showed how much they love him, Jesus, and co.

He said last week (Daily Mail): “When you feel the energy it’s because something special happened. And then when last week, you receive a text from the players inviting you and the coaching staff for a dinner.

“That is… only two things can happen. Because they want to say goodbye! Or because they feel that they love you and they want to show that they are with you. And I think it’s the second.

“They are not about to say goodbye to me. To say goodbye to me, they would say goodbye here (at the training ground). Not inviting me to dinner.”

Pochettino was asked about the meal in his press conference today and he claimed that it can help to have a different relationship outside of the training ground.

Poch said (Football London): “It was very good, very nice, it was very kind of them to invite the coaching staff and different people that help the team. It was so nice, of course busy. We spent a few hours there but nice to be together and to see each other in different environment always helps achieve a positive dynamic. You cannot measure how much it will help, 20 per cent, 30 per cent. In the dynamic of the group, this team bonding, for different players or the new players, makes the group stronger. It’s not the same, here on the training ground it’s a routine, when you go away from the training ground it’s a different type of relationship and it can help on the pitch, When we work on team bonding it is to generate something between us in the group to help us to perform and fight to help your team-mates because you know them better. These things are always a positive and never a negative.

“On our table, we were talking about football, 90% of the conversation. For them it was nice to talk in a different way and to see each other, how you dress when you go to the restaurant. That doesn’t mean we will go to Anfield and beat them 5-0 because were in the restaurant altogether, but medium to long-term it will help a lot.

“To be honest, I have paid for a lot of dinners and lunch in five and a half years. In that moment when the results are not the results that everyone expects, especially after last season, it was nice of them [to invite me] and that is why I am so grateful and everybody is grateful.”

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