Pochettino Admits He Owes Referee Mike Dean An Apology

By Max Wise

Tottenham Hotspurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has admitted that he owes Mike Dean an apology after he angrily accosted the referee after Spurs slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Pochettino was incensed with the officials for wrongly awarding Burnley a corner kick from which the hosts opened the scoring.

Although the returning Harry Kane pulled Spurs level, Burnley managed to dent the visitors’ title charge with a late winner scored by Ashley Barnes.

"I made a mistake," said the Argentine.

"We know how important the match was and we felt disappointment." 

"I should have gone to the dressing room and got some water. A stupid thing happens and you react. Maybe I will go and apologise to the referee.

"We lost because of our mistakes, not to find an excuse or to blame things not in our hands. We should do better and in the end we need to blame ourselves.

"I said this game was key and that if we didn't win we cannot think we are a real contender [for the Premier League title].

"It is a massive opportunity lost."

Tottenham’s defeat means they missed the chance to move two points behind leaders Manchester City and Liverpool could move eight points above them with victory over Manchester United on Sunday.