Tottenham have proved me wrong over 'Harry Kane team' comments, admits Pep Guardiola

'I was wrong': Guardiola says Spurs have shown his comments were misplaced
Bongarts/Getty Images

Pep Guardiola claims Tottenham have proved him wrong over his ‘Harry Kane team’ comment.

The Manchester City manager’s description of Spurs last season incensed Mauricio Pochettino, who labelled the Catalan ‘disrespectful’ – adding that he “struggles to be a gentleman” at times.

Guardiola always insisted his remarks had been misinterpreted and sought to clarify the situation with his Tottenham counterpart.

He chose not to reopen old wounds ahead of the Premier League champions’ clash with Spurs on Monday, which could see Pochettino’s side overtake them with a win at Wembley.

Action Images via Reuters

Spurs’ impressive start, which sees them sit just two points behind City, has come despite Kane enduring a lean spell in front of goal by his high standards, with seven goals in 12 appearances.

Reminded of his comments from last term, Guardiola replied simply: “They show me how wrong I was.”

Guardiola had been particularly disappointed by Pochettino’s response, not least because he had been so complimentary of the Argentine since taking over at the Etihad.

He had cited Spurs as one of the main contenders for the title at a time when Kane had scored 11 of the Londoners’ 21 goals in all competitions.

What he considered a compliment, Pochettino believed was deeply disrespectful.

“He was part of the big success of Barcelona with (Lionel) Messi at his best,” Pochettino responded at the time. “I never said it was the ’Messi team.’”

Pochettino and Guardiola will meet at Wembley on Monday. (Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I

“Sometimes, he struggles to keep his position and be a gentleman. I take that situation – it didn’t affect me but in reality, it was very disrespectful for many people. It’s difficult to understand.”

Guardiola maintains Spurs will be among the main challengers for City’s title this season and believes games against the top six will be particularly pivotal at a time when the leading sides are breaking away from the rest.

“When you play against the contenders it’s almost six points, isn’t it?” he said. “These are important.

“I don’t know what’s happened in the past, but it’s true that the strong teams are making a lot of points, they are not dropping points easily. That’s why maybe the games against the contenders are becoming so important.

“We’ve started with three games away against them. That’s why it is so important to take those points. But nothing is going to change.

“The first year we dropped a lot of points against contenders. Except Anfield and United at home, we won everything in the second season.

“The reality is what we’ve done last year you have to be focused on everyone. We had 100 points because we were focused on all the games.”

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