Mauricio Pochettino takes swipe at rivals Chelsea with 'happy family' comment

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on during his side's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at White Hart Lane on August 20, 2016
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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino claims that his side are now 'like a happy family', in contrast to Chelsea whose star player reportedly wants to leave.

Mauricio Pochettino has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Premier League title rivals Chelsea by claiming that Tottenham Hotspur are now like a 'happy family'.

The comments were made in reference to reports linking the Blues' star striker Diego Costa with a move to the Chinese Super League following an apparent training-ground row with a backroom staff member.

Pochettino insists that there are no such problems at Tottenham, having seen his side win seven games in a row overall, but the Spurs boss warns that jumping ship for the Far East riches is not a wise choice should any of his players ever feel tempted.

"To be together and every player happy and part of our Tottenham family, I think we have a very good atmosphere around the club," he told reporters. "Our supporters are amazing and I think this is a very good mix between the club, the supporters, the players, the staff.

"I think it's amazing day by day how we feel, how we live on the training ground. That is the important thing in the end to try to win big things, to fight.

"Have there been any offers from China for my players? No. My reaction to the Costa story was indifference because, luckily, it is not my problem. What can you do when an offer like this arrives from a country that is like this? It's crazy money. It looks like they broke the market. If the offer to Costa is true, it's unbelievable, unbelievable. But we will see what happens."

Tottenham, who now trail leaders Chelsea by five points at the summit, return to league action next weekend with a trip to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at White Hart Lane on September 26, 2015 in London, United Kingdom.
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea21171345153052
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs21136243142945
3Liverpool21136249242545
4Arsenal21135348222644
5Manchester CityMan City21133541261542
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21117332201240
7Everton219663223933
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom218582828029
9Stoke CityStoke217682733-627
10Burnley2182112331-826
11Bournemouth2174103037-725
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2174102635-925
13Southampton216691926-724
14Watford2165102336-1323
15Leicester CityLeicester2156102434-1021
16Middlesbrough214891722-520
17Crystal Palace2144133040-1016
18Hull City2144132045-2516
19Sunderland2143142040-2015
20Swansea CitySwansea2143142349-2615