Saturday 21 January 2017 22:17, UK
Maurico Pochettino admitted Tottenham were second best in their 2-2 draw with Manchester City, but did not think the hosts deserved a penalty for Kyle Walker's push on Raheem Sterling.
Spurs had won their previous six Premier League matches but were largely outplayed at the Etihad by City, who scored twice quickly after half-time through Leroy Sane and Kevin de Bruyne.
Dele Alli replied for the visitors with their first attempt on target before City were denied a penalty when Walker pushed Sterling from behind as he was through on goal.
"For me, it wasn't a penalty," said Pochettino. "In England, it's different. We are different, in a different world here. We cannot complain about the referee.
"Like (when) Sane scored, it was handball. (If) it was a penalty, it was handball, (but) it wasn't a penalty, it wasn't handball. It's a good balance.
"In the two actions, that is England. If we review all the actions, you can see that touch in behind (from Walker) happens a lot and the referee never says anything about that."
Shortly after the non-award of the penalty, Spurs equalised through substitute Heung-Min Son, and they held on for a point.
"It's true that Manchester City were better than us," said Pochettino. "I need to be honest. Sometimes in football you don't win.
"After the first half we didn't play in the way we wanted to play. It was a tough game for both sides. It was important, a massive point."
Spurs saw defender Toby Alderweireld go off injured in the second half, but Pochettino said: "I think it doesn't look bad. We don't know if it was an injury or it was a precaution that he decided to come off the pitch.
"I think he felt tired and I think Toby, when we were talking, it doesn't look bad."
