Tottenham transfer news: Mauricio Pochettino expresses frustration at being blamed for failed signings

Pochettino stressed that Tottenham’s shortcomings in the transfer marker should not be viewed solely as his fault

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has expressed his dismay and frustration at being blamed for the club’s failed signings.

Despite Spur’s recent success, reaching the Champions League final and successive top-four finishes, their immediate history in the transfer window was pointed out to be not quite as successful following the departure of Dutch striker Victor Janssen.

But Pochettino stressed that Tottenham’s failures should not be viewed solely as his fault, just as he does not feel he deserves credit for successes like Son Heung-min.

“I think when you say I am very successful with signings, I think it’s not true,” he said. “Always the club sign players, not Mauricio.

“Of course, in that structure sometimes you have more important parts in your opinion or the club take more important percentage than your opinion and sometimes no.

“That is why I think that when successful when someone signs for the club we share in between all, but when the player fails always it’s accuse the manager. I am responsible.”

Pochettino is part of a football committee with chairman Daniel Levy and chief scout Steve Hitchen but the Spurs boss is now leaving summer transfer business to the other members as he focuses on pre-season preparations in Asia.

“I never work with expectations or the perceptions, I work with the reality,” he said ahead of Thursday’s International Champions Cup encounter with Manchester United in Shanghai.

“I told you before I think I’m going to be happy with the squad that we are going to work with at the end of the transfer window.

“I am not focused on that. I am very focused in trying to help the team and players to improve and try to perform and get the results that we want.”

Club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele was Spur’s first new addition for two transfer windows, with fellow arrival Jack Clarke sent back to Leeds on loan.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old forward Troy Parrott staked his claim for being involved in the first-team squad this season with an impressive display during his first appearance in the win against Juventus.

“Today, yes (he could be part of the squad),” Pochettino said. “Tomorrow, I don’t know.

“We’re working with the (young) players, trying to provide the best platform and possibility for them to perform and be comfortable with the first team.

“He’s still so young but we’ll see what happens at the end of the transfer window.

“If we have the squad that we have today, of course he’s going to have the possibility to be with the first team.”

Many of the local reporters in Shanghai were understandably focused on Spurs’ South Korean star, Son Heung-min, whose evident level of fame in Asia eclipses that of anyone in the squad. Pochettino was quick to praise Son and said that it comes as no surprise.

“We can appreciate and see how the people love Sonny here in Asia,” Pochettino said.

“Of course, he’s an icon. I compare him before to David Beckham in popularity.

“It doesn’t surprise me but it’s good to see how the people love him and how important he is for the people.

“I am happy to hear him telling you that he still wants to improve, be better and work hard.

“That mentality is fantastic and that is why he is a very good example for all the fans and all the people, not only here but in Asia if not the word.”