POCHETTINO: "CHELSEA CHEATED, TOTTENHAM ARE CHAMPIONS"

"We absolutely deserve the 2016-17 Premier League title as Tottenham. Chelsea were punished for breaching financial rules and admitted their guilt, it's that clear. We did not compete under the same rules. We finished the season second. Now they can come out and say they scored goals, won games. But it is completely fair to say we didn't compete on equal terms. Maybe if the same rules applied, we could have made signings to improve the team or score more goals. This is not a complaint, it is the truth."

Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur at the time and the current head coach of the United States Men's National Team (USMNT), has made explosive remarks that have caused an earthquake in English football. The experienced Argentine tactician made a striking claim regarding the 2016-17 Premier League season, stating that Tottenham are the rightful owners of that championship. Having finished second behind Chelsea that season, the former Spurs boss emphasized that an unfair competitive environment existed because the Blues violated financial fair play rules and eventually admitted to it. According to Pochettino, if both clubs had been subjected to the exact same financial regulations and restrictions, Tottenham could have made critical transfers to significantly strengthen their squad, potentially altering the entire destiny of the title race. The successful manager specifically noted that his comments were not meant as an excuse or a complaint, but rather highlighting a historical truth.

GÖRSEL: THE GUARDIAN