Sports

Mauricio Pochettino claims he could be FIRED within a week as ‘traumatised’ Tottenham face four losses in a row

Published

8 years ago

September 22, 2018

Mauricio Pochettino has admitted he could get sacked next week after confessing Tottenham’s players have been left been “traumatised” by their disastrous run.

Pochettino is stuck in the middle of the worst run of his four-year reign after losing three games on the bounce and he faces a tricky trip to Brighton on Saturday, followed by a Carabao Cup tie with Watford — who they lost to in the league 11 days ago.

The Tottenham boss insists his only focus is turning the club’s fortunes around and would never publicly criticise his employers for a lack of summer transfers even if he admits his current squad are struggling for confidence.

Spurs won their first three and opened the scoring against Watford — then the wheels fell off (Image: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Saturday’s home Big Six shootout with Liverpool was not as close as the 2-1 result suggests (Image: PA)

Tottenham led hosts Inter Milan with six minutes to play — and didn’t even get a point (Image: EMPICS Sport)

Pochettino said: “I am going to stick with the club, I am not going to criticise the club. All the decisions are our decisions and of course always with the club until the end.

“Maybe we are still here in five years or maybe in one week we are not here, but we will always be talking well about the club and helping them to achieve all they want.

“The only way we can stop that [criticism] is winning games and if we don’t win, everyone is going to criticise more than now. And you know what is going to happen when we don’t win games — the first responsible is me.

Pochettino suggested their inability to keep clean sheets has traumatised Spurs (Image: EMPICS Sport)

Defeat in Italy heaps the pressure on the Argentinean to end that losing streak against Brighton (Image: Empics SPORT)

“I am so relaxed. In football, something can happen with the situation but I am going to give my best until the end.

“It’s true, we concede a lot. It’s something we talk a lot about but sometimes [if] you talk a lot and then it happens again, it’s like you create a trauma.

“The way we concede the goals is so painful but it happens in football and we need to be strong. It’s so important to keep our belief. I’m sure we will win games. The group is a little bit anxious, of course, about winning games.”

Harry Kane and co seemed in a good enough mood at Thursday training (Image: Tottenham Hotspur/Getty)

Pochettino, who dropped Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier for the Champions League defeat at Inter Milan, has promised more changes this weekend and warned Dele Alli may not be fit despite returning to training.

They will also be without first-choice keeper Hugo Lloris again and Pochettino admitted his World Cup-winning France captain may have suffered his thigh injury as a result of the added “stress” of his drink-driving conviction.

Dele Alli was back with his team-mates — but Saturday’s game may come too soon (Image: Tottenham Hotspur/Getty)

Pochettino added of his skipper: “I think he was under stress during the game against Manchester United [the last game before his court date].

“I think the injury and with the added stress maybe created that injury.

“The injury now is helping him to take time and think and be a little bit more relaxed. To compete after what happened was a massive stress for him.”

Sports

‎Oseni Mobilises Supporters with Free Tickets for Shooting Stars’ Victory ‎

Published

7 days ago

August 29, 2026

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has congratulated Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan on their 2-1 victory over newly promoted Inter Lagos in the opening fixture of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
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‎The Oluyole Warriors began their campaign on a winning note at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan, on Friday, securing three points in front of their home supporters.
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‎Ahead of the encounter, the lawmaker mobilised hundreds of supporters to the stadium and provided free tickets for fans to enable them to watch and cheer the Ibadan-based club.
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‎The mobilisation, led by members of his youth wing, contributed to the strong home support for Shooting Stars as the team battled the Lagos-based newcomers in an entertaining opening-day encounter.
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‎In a statement issued on Friday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, who represents, Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency said he was delighted with the victory and commended the players, coaches, management and supporters of the club for starting the new season on a positive note.
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The statement added that the gesture was a reflection of Oseni’s passion for sports and his belief that sustained support from the fans could inspire the team to greater achievements during the season.
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“ Oseni is a lover of sports and passionate about Shooting Stars. This is one of the ways, among others, that we can support the team and encourage them in their quest for victory,” the statement stressed.
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It further explained that the free tickets were provided to encourage more supporters to fill the stands and give the players the backing they needed, particularly in their first home game of the season.
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According to the statement, Oseni believes that sports provide an important platform for youth engagement, development and community pride, stressing that Shooting Stars remains a club with a strong place in the identity of Ibadan and Oyo State.
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‎On the pitch, Lucky Emmanuel put Shooting Stars ahead in the 15th minute before Inter Lagos equalised through Uchenna Njoku. Sodiq Ibrahim restored the home side’s lead from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, with the score remaining 2-1 until the final whistle.
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‎The APC chieftain urged the Oluyole Warriors to build on the victory and maintain their winning mentality throughout the season, assuring the team of his continued support and encouragement.

Sports

Oyo APC Demands Probe of N5.5bn Lekan Salami Stadium Renovation

Published

3 weeks ago

August 18, 2026

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The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the N5.5bn reportedly spent on the renovation of the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, by the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.

The party made the call following the reported rejection of the stadium by the Confederation of African Football as a venue for Shooting Stars Sports Club’s continental campaign.

Shooting Stars secured qualification for continental football after about 28 years but will reportedly play its home matches in Abeokuta after the Ibadan stadium failed to meet CAF’s requirements.

In a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, the Oyo APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, described the development as disappointing and embarrassing to the state.

The party alleged that the CAF decision had raised questions about the quality of work carried out at the stadium and the funds reportedly committed to its renovation.

Sadare said the state government should explain why a facility said to have gulped N5.5bn could not secure approval to host a continental competition.

He said, “Everyone in the state should ask Governor Makinde to explain the circumstances surrounding the stadium’s failure to secure approval for the CAF Confederation Cup and provide details of the funds committed to its renovation and upgrading.”

The APC also criticised what it described as the alleged delivery of substandard projects by the Makinde administration, citing the recent erosion that reportedly damaged part of a road project in Bodija shortly after its commissioning.

The party said the stadium’s failure to host Shooting Stars’ continental fixtures was particularly unfortunate because the club’s return to African competition after nearly three decades should have provided Oyo State with an opportunity to showcase its sporting infrastructure to a wider African audience.

The APC therefore urged the EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies to investigate the award and execution of the stadium project, establish how the funds were spent and make anyone found culpable to face the law.

It also called on the state government to urgently address the deficiencies identified at the stadium and ensure that the facility is upgraded to meet international standards and capable of hosting major continental competitions in the future.

Sports

UCL Final: ‘I hope last year’s loss to PSG still hurts’ – Wilshere messages Arsenal

Published

3 months ago

May 28, 2026

OAdmiN

Former Arsenal star, Jack Wilshere, has sent a message to the Gunners ahead of their UEFA Champions League final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal will take on the French Ligue 1 giants in the Champions League final this year in Budapest on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side had lost 3-1 on aggregate against PSG in the Champions League semi-final stage last year.

Speaking on TNT Sports (via GOAL), Wilshere remembered Arsenal about their last year’s defeat to PSG and urged them to use it as a revenge to get a win against Luis Enrique’s side when both sides meet again this weekend.

“Now that the Premier League is over the line, I know that the Premier League was the one. I know that Mikel wanted that. I know that the boys wanted that,” Wilshere said.

“Now you have to go through some tough times and learn from it. I hope that the Champions League semi-final [PSG 3-1 Arsenal] last year hurt them enough that they can go on and use that [against PSG].

“I think when you are on the pitch, and you are playing against your direct opponent, you learn so much about them. And to face them next year, they will be better for that.”