Real Madrid Issue Statement On Tottenham Manager Mauricio Pochettino's Claim

It's all kicking off between Real Madrid and Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

The Argentine gaffer had claimed Spurs had asked Real Madrid whether they could use the club's sports centre ahead of the Champions League final.

Image: PA

However, Real Madrid refused access. Spurs will now use the training complex at Valdebebas.

Speaking on Thursday, Pochettino said: "Ahead of the final, we will train at Valdebebas and sleep in a nearby hotel.

"I asked Florentino to let us sleep in the sports centre, but he told me that I can only sleep there when I become the coach of Real Madrid."

Real Madrid have since issued a strong-worded statement where they've accused Pochettino of lying.

"Real Madrid CF is surprised by the demonstrations made by the coach of Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino, about a supposed request made to our club so that his team could stay in the residence of the Real Madrid City on the occasion of the final of the Champions League," the statement reads.

"Real Madrid CF wants to make it clear that it is outright false that this request was produced. Our club has always shown its absolute availability to meet all the requests made by UEFA, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Club Atlético de Madrid, Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur.

"All requests submitted to Real Madrid have referred only and exclusively to the use of the training camps of the Ciudad Real Madrid and its changing rooms. And all of them have been granted by our club.

"Thus, Liverpool plans to train in our facilities on Saturday, June 1 in the morning. Tottenham, for its part, will do so on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31.

"Real Madrid CF also wants to emphasize that the accommodation of the finalist teams of the Champions League are assigned by UEFA following criteria of organization and security. And that at no time has our club been requested that these teams could be accommodated in the facilities of Ciudad Real Madrid."

Spurs face Liverpool at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on June 1.

Who'll be crowned Champions League winners? Sound off in the comment section below with your prediction.

Topics: Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Football, Atletico Madrid, Mauricio Pochettino, UEFA, Champions League, Real Madrid

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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