Pochettino’s Tottenham finished runners-up behind Antonio Conte’s Chelsea during the 2016-17 campaign, ending the season seven points behind the eventual champions.
Chelsea were fined £10.75 million in March after being charged by the Premier League over historical breaches of competition rules. The club had also been handed a six-point deduction, although the punishment was later set aside on appeal.
The breaches were self-reported by Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, following their takeover of the club in 2022. Chelsea admitted to making £47 million in undisclosed payments to unregistered agents and third parties in connection with transfers between 2011 and 2018.
Pochettino, who managed Tottenham from 2014 to 2019, believes the punishment should have resulted in the title being handed to Spurs.
“We should win one title, one Premier League. We should have been awarded it,” Pochettino said.
“Chelsea were punished, they admitted, so that’s it? The title should be for the second team.
“It’s true that we didn’t compete with the same rules. It’s completely fair to say that we didn’t compete before the start of the season with the same card.”
The Argentine argued that Tottenham could have made different decisions in the transfer market had they known Chelsea were operating outside the rules.
“Maybe with the same rules, if we apply the same things, maybe we could’ve signed some players that would have made the team better or scored more goals,” he added.
Pochettino insisted his comments were not intended as a complaint but as an argument over sporting fairness.
“It’s not me complaining – it’s the truth. If they admitted they broke the rules, the Premier League title was for the second-best team,” he said.
The former Tottenham boss also acknowledged that his comments could anger Chelsea supporters, particularly given that he later managed the London club during the 2023-24 season.
“I’m not scared to say the truth. The Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I’m saying this, but if we were at Tottenham and broke the rules I’d admit the same,” Pochettino added.
Tottenham’s 2016-17 campaign remains Pochettino’s best Premier League finish with the club. Spurs finished second without winning a trophy during his five-year tenure, although he did lead them to the Champions League final in 2019.
