Pleat hits back at Bates insults
Tottenham hit back at Ken Bates today following the Chelsea chairman's insult that Spurs' defeat in the Worthington Cup Final was "good for football".
Bates made an astonishing attack, reported in yesterday's Standard Sport, saying his club were psyched up for revenge in next week's FA Cup sixth round clash because Glenn Hoddle's team had "gloated" about their 5- 1 demolition of Chelsea in the Worthington Cup semi-final.
But Spurs director of football David Pleat responded by claiming Bates had resorted to starting rows in a desperate attempt to motivate his players.
"It is Ken's attempt at 'spinning' and trying to manufacture a reaction from his players," Pleat said. "It is not the Spurs way to gloat about winning and we have not done so.
"We have our own identity and traditions and are universally known as a sporting club. Ken's unique style will be sadly missed by the media and his friends in football when he eventually leaves Chelsea."
Les: Losing in final hit me for six
Weekend football focus
