Mauricio Pochettino's pre-match message to Manchester City: ‘Let the music play’

The Tottenham Hotspur manager said he would want his team to play loud music at the Etihad on Saturday because it would mean they had got a good result

After a week of noise about what happened at Old Trafford, Mauricio Pochettino had a fairly simple sentiment: ‘let the music play’.

The Tottenham Hotspur manager said he would want his team to play loud music at the Etihad on Saturday because it would mean they had got a good result, but wouldn’t mind too much if Manchester City do so in the event of a win, because he would want his squad to use the feeling of that in the right way as motivation.

A brawl was sparked in the Manchester United stadium after the 2-1 defeat to City last week, when Jose Mourinho went to the away side’s dressing room to confront them about the lack of respect shown by playing music so loud. It was a level of sound also noted after Swansea City’s 4-0 defeat to Pep Guardiola’s team at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday, with Paul Clement making light of it when Oasis songs could audibly be heard coming through the wall. Pochettino however took a more relaxed attitude, ahead of facing City on Saturday evening.

“Look, I am not going to talk about what happened between Manchester United and Manchester City, only I want to tell you, when we won our games, like was in Huddersfield [Town], or like was in Wembley against Stoke [City], the players put music and it's so loud... it's normal, if you lose the game, you are not going to put music.

“You are going to the changing room, and your shower, and you want to go quick back home, but that's because they are winning, winning, winning, it's normal they put music in the changing room. If you look before the game, both changing rooms have music, loud music, and only can win... if it's a draw, sure that you listen both teams with music but that is normal.

“I wish that [we play music on Saturday] ... but I never [complain] if another team celebrate because sometimes it's good. When you lose, and you hear all that happens in another changing room, it's good to feel the pain. With respect of course, because it's always about respect but sometimes it's good to listen. If we run more, and we play better and we care more... come on maybe we need to translate that feeling to the opposite changing room.”