Pochettino hits out at reports of Rose rift

Cape Town - Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino insists Danny Rose was left out of the Arsenal game due to fitness concerns, not because of a personal rift between the two.

Rose started for England in the international friendly against Brazil last week, but Pochettino left out the full-back for the crunch north London derby against the Gunners, who won 2-0 on Saturday.

The Spurs boss remained adamant that Rose was left out because he needed more match fitness, and was annoyed by the line of questioning the press pursued after the defeat to Arsenal.

"If it had been 2-0 to us, nobody would have asked me about Rose. That is so opportunistic. It is not good. I am not happy about that. You want to try to find a situation," said the Argentine, according to the Daily Mail.

"When it is an issue, it is an issue. When it is not an issue, it is not an issue. I am always an honest person. It isn't true.

"We analysed the players, and some were better to play than others and some just needed to train. It is not the same if you are trying to get fit – or you are trying to get full fitness so you can cope with a full 90 minutes. Today, rather than be on the bench, the decision was made to train on the training ground.

"Erik Lamela was playing on the same pitch to build up his fitness, too. There is no other reason. Danny just needs to build and wait for his opportunity when we believe that he can play. 

"It is important to remember we played without him for 10 months. The competition is so tough and to get fit and be ready to cope with the pressure of 90 minutes is so difficult."

Rose became a controversial figure at Spurs earlier in the season following his outspoken attack on club director Daniel Levy's conservative philosophy regarding player contracts.