Pochettino thinks the 2016-17 title should belong to Tottenham

Chelsea fans look away

According to the Argentine coach, the 2016-17 title belongs to his former Tottenham side, which finished second that season.

After being charged by the Premier League over historical breaches of competition rules, Chelsea were fined 10.75m pounds in March, with a six-point deduction "set aside" on appeal.

That season, Antonio Conte’s Chelsea finished seven points clear of Pochettino’s Spurs in the league table.

Chelsea players celebrating with the Premier League Trophy after the match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 21, 2017. Credit: Getty Images

As reported by BBC Sport, Pochettino said: “We should win one title, one Premier League. We should have been awarded it.”

“[Chelsea] were punished, they admitted, so that's it? The title should be for the team that was second.”

“It's true that we didn't compete with the same rules," added the Argentine, who is now in charge of the United States.

“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. 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.”

What Chelsea did wrong revealed

Club owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital self-reported 74 breaches of Football Association rules when they bought the club in 2022.

Chelsea then admitted making 47m pounds in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018.

According to the club, it had “treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators”.

During his five years at Spurs, Pochettino won no trophies but reached a Champions League final, and later managed Tottenham’s rivals.