Mauricio Pochettino insists VAR prevents players from being ‘naughty like we were’ back in his playing days… as the Chelsea boss claims technology means ‘it’s easier now’ for attacking players like Erling Haaland
- Mauricio Pochettino will lock horns with Man City boss Pep Guardiola on Sunday
- The latest meeting comes 26 years after a feisty clash as players in Barcelona
- Why we should get excited about Cole Palmer – Listen here to It’s All Coming Up
Mauricio Pochettino admits he used to be a master of the dark arts as a defender for Argentina and Espanyol — but says VAR now makes it so much harder to stop the likes of Erling Haaland.
The Chelsea manager locks horns again with Pep Guardiola as Manchester City visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday, 26 years after a feisty meeting as players in the 1997 Barcelona derby.
Both Espanyol goals in their 2-0 win were scored by Florin Raducioiu, who’d been sent back to Spain from West Ham by a furious Harry Redknapp after discovering the Romanian striker had missed a cup defeat at Stockport in order to take his wife shopping at Harvey Nichols.
But the dirty work was done by Pochettino and Co in nullifying Barca’s all-star team, led by the great Brazilian Ronaldo.
It was a stormy affair, with Luis Figo sent off and six more yellow cards for Barcelona, including midfielder Guardiola and manager Bobby Robson’s young assistant — a certain Jose Mourinho.
Mauricio Pochettino and Pep Guardiola will lock horns on Sunday, 26 years after a feisty meeting as players in the Barcelona derby
The Chelsea boss admits he used to be a master of the dark arts for Argentina and Espanyol
Pochettino says it would be more difficult to defend against likes of Erling Haaland due to VAR
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‘I remember that game — you can find some clips on YouTube,’ laughed Pochettino. ‘I was doing some bad things and today I would be off after a few minutes!
‘It was a special night. To get the victory felt really good.’
But he adds: ‘Today, with VAR, it would have been impossible to stop Ronaldo. Back then, we were “naughty”, there were no cameras and you could use different strategies. I wouldn’t say it was easy, but to be a defender now is really difficult.
‘It’s easier now for offensive players like Haaland. They have the advantage of VAR, so defenders are cautious not to foul or pull shirts. Before it was like a war in every single action.’
Today his defenders must stop Haaland. ‘You need to run faster, focus and try to anticipate him,’ he said. ‘You have to be clear how you are going to defend in the box because he is tall. You need to jump before him. You need to teach people things but you also need them to feel it. You have to give them good tools.’
On Pep, Pochettino said: ‘Now he has the experience, knowledge and the squad, and he’s a great coach. But we have to believe. Football is about belief and trying to develop and to create different strategies to get above them.’
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