Mauricio Pochettino Insists Tottenham Should Be Awarded 2016-17 Premier League Title After Chelsea's Financial Rule Breaches

Pochettino Calls for Spurs to Be Crowned 2016-17 Champions

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has boldly declared that Tottenham Hotspur deserves the 2016-17 Premier League title following Chelsea's admission of multiple financial breaches. The Argentine claims that Chelsea’s violations undermine the legitimacy of their crown, arguing the trophy should instead be handed to Spurs.

The Financial Breaches Uncovered

The Football Association recently fined Chelsea £10 million and issued a suspended transfer ban after the club acknowledged 74 breaches of FA financial regulations. These infringements occurred between 2011 and 2018 during Roman Abramovich’s tenure and involved illegal payments to unregistered agents linked to significant transfers.

Chelsea’s new ownership reported these issues after taking control in 2022. Players like Eden Hazard, David Luiz, and Nemanja Matic were part of the squad that clinched the Premier League under Antonio Conte in 2016-17.

2016-17 Season Recap

• Champion: Chelsea
• Points Difference: Tottenham finished second, seven points behind
• Spurs' Strengths: Best attack, tightest defense, fewest defeats

Despite leading in key areas, Tottenham ended the season without the title. Pochettino believes this outcome was unfair given the off-field advantage Chelsea held.

Pochettino’s Argument for Fair Play

"We should have been awarded it. If that was true, and that happened, for sure we deserve to be champions for that year. Because we were the second best," Pochettino told reporters.

The coach emphasized that financial penalties alone do not address the unfairness of rule-breaking. He pointed out the uneven conditions under which the two clubs operated and insisted the title belongs to the team that played within the proper boundaries.

"They admitted (it), so that's it? The title should be for the team that was second. We didn’t compete with the same rules," he added.

Pochettino speculated that a level playing field could have allowed Spurs to strengthen their squad further and possibly change the season’s outcome.

Addressing Chelsea Directly

Having managed Chelsea during the 2023-24 season, Pochettino did not hesitate to confront his former club on the issue.

"The Chelsea fans will be upset with me because I’m saying this. But if we were at Tottenham and broke the rules, I would admit the same and say, ‘Look, we don’t deserve the title because we broke the rules.’ It’s impossible if only some clubs play with offside and another plays with no offside," he said.

He underscored the need for consistent rules and fairness across all clubs.

"I don’t say that they did not play well. Conte, the coach, was great. I don’t want this message twisted. But if you broke the rules, in the moment, then ciao. You need to give it to another team," Pochettino insisted.

He warned that failing to impose sporting sanctions encourages breaking rules, setting a poor example.

"If you don’t punish the way that you need to punish, I say yes, but I lost my job because we didn’t win the title. We were fighting with clubs [who worked] in a completely different way to us. I think we deserve more. We operated in a different way," he concluded.

Will English Football Take Action?

Historically, English football authorities have avoided stripping titles over financial misconduct, often preferring points deductions. With growing attention on financial fair play and sustainability, Chelsea’s case may stir debate about how the Premier League manages its wealthiest clubs.

Though retroactive punishment appears unlikely, Pochettino’s remarks highlight ongoing concerns about sporting integrity and fairness in the competition.