Pochettino at centre of bust-up outside Tottenham dressing room after defeat to Juve - report
By Richard Parkes
Mauricio Pochettino stepped in to defuse a row outside the Tottenham dressing room as tempers flared in the immediate aftermath of their Champions League elimination to Juventus on Wednesday night, according to a report.
The Evening Standard claim the Spurs manager played peacemaker to calm down what was a heated situation involving representatives of the two clubs.
It is said that the bust-up did not involve Wojciech Szczesny, the deputy Juventus goalkeeper whose antics on the substitute's bench stunned Wembley officials in the closing stages of the match.
Juventus won a thrilling encounter 2-1 to secure a 4-3 aggregate victory and ensure heartbreak for Spurs, who had impressed all observers with their performances in both legs of the last-16 tie.
Football Insider verdict:
As anyone who remembers Tottenham's famously feisty clash at Stamford Bridge two seasons ago as they chased the Premier League title will avow, Pochettino is far from a footballing pacifist. A former defender schooled in Argentine football, the 46-year-old can hold his own when he needs to, with his Latino temperament never far from the surface. Yet, Pochettino is also a highly intelligent man who is able to disengage his emotions for the greater good, and his apparent role of peacemaker made sure nothing got out of hand and Spurs were not seen as bad losers after suffering Champions League heartache.