Pochettino plays down Rose rift

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino on Thursday played down talk of a rift between himself and fullback Danny Rose after the England international was left out of last week's north London derby against Arsenal.

Asked to comment on reports that Rose was "fuming" about his omission from the squad, Pochettino said the 27-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United, had not been happy but had accepted the decision.

"He never showed that feeling to me," Pochettino said. "The day before we had a conversation and he never showed me that he was angry. Of course, disappointed, yes, because all the players always want to be involved.