Jan Vertonghen believes Mauricio Pochettino was a victim of his own success at Tottenham and says all the players feel responsible for the Argentine’s sacking.
Spurs won for the third straight game since Pochettino was replaced by Jose Mourinho last month, beating Bournemouth 3-2 at home on Saturday.
Pochettino was dismissed after winning just three of 12 League matches this season, leaving Spurs in danger of being cut adrift from the top four.
Vertonghen, who made his first League start on Saturday since late October, played three seasons in the Europa League after joining Spurs from Ajax in 2012 and says Pochettino paid the price for making a lack of Champions League football unthinkable during five-and-a-half years in charge.
“Sometimes you’re a victim of your own success,” said Vertonghen. “He did so well and the expectations got bigger. That’s the world of football. It’s a business world, as well. I came here and played in the Europa League and he definitely brought this club to the next level. Not being in a top four spot is now disappointing.”
Dele Alli, who scored twice against Bournemouth, has admitted feeling guilty about Pochettino’s dismissal, and Vertonghen said: “Our displays [under Pochettino] were not up to our standards.
“We’re all responsible. He put us on the pitch to win and we haven’t been doing that like we should, so everyone feels responsible.”
Vertonghen was not among the Spurs players to publicly thank Pochettino on social media but he said: “I sent him a [private] message. That was my message to him.”
Moussa Sissoko’s first goal since October 2017 put Spurs 3-0 ahead against Eddie Howe’s side but, just as they did at West Ham a week earlier, they conceded twice late on.
Vertonghen says Spurs must improve their game management when they face Mourinho’s former club Manchester United on Wednesday. “We have to be professional in the way we kill the game,” he said.
