Mauricio Pochettino claims that Tottenham deserve to be awarded the 2017 title after Chelsea were sanctioned for breaching financial regulations

Mauricio Pochettino claims Tottenham should have been awarded the 2016-2017 English league title following the sanctions later imposed on Chelsea for breaching rules concerning payments to agents and third parties.

The 54-year-old Argentine coach managed Tottenham between 2014 and 2019. His team finished the 2016-2017 season second in the Premier League, seven points behind Chelsea, then managed by Antonio Conte.

Chelsea admitted to 74 breaches of rule E1.2, committed between 2009 and 2022, mainly during the period when the club was owned by Roman Abramovich. At the end of July, the English Football Association fined the club £10 million and imposed a suspended ban for two transfer windows. The Premier League had previously imposed a £10.75 million fine.

Among the transfers concerned were those of Eden Hazard, Willian, David Luiz and Nemanja Matic, important players in the team that won the title.

Pochettino told The Guardian that, if Chelsea had breached the rules and admitted it, Tottenham “deserve to be champions”. He said he would have taken the same position if his own club had been sanctioned. Tottenham have not won the English championship since 1961.