John Barnes believes only ‘stupid people’ criticise Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino over their lack of trophies in England.
Klopp has lost three cup finals since becoming Liverpool boss in 2015, while Pochettino is also yet to lift silverware with Tottenham.
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Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino have been lauded for their work in England
In March, ex-Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho appeared to aim a dig at the two managers when he said younger coaches were lauded for their style of football without winning trophies.
But one of Klopp or Pochettino will end the season with a Champions League winners’ medal when Liverpool face Tottenham in an all-English final on June 1.
When asked about the criticism that comes their way, Barnes, who made 410 appearances for Liverpool between 1987 and 1997, speaking on behalf of BT Sport, said: “Well, they are being criticised by stupid people because why should Tottenham win the league?
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John Barnes won two top flight titles with Liverpool
“When it comes to silverware, you can’t ask a manager to win an FA Cup when you don’t know who you’re going to play.
“Let’s say with Pochettino, to win the FA Cup, in the third round he plays Manchester City away, do you expect him to win that? No, but he can win it.
“And then in the fourth round he plays Liverpool away and then in the fifth round he plays Chelsea away. What are the chances of winning all of those matches?
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Mauricio Pochettino could end his wait for a trophy with Tottenham in the Champions League final
“So to then say ‘we should win silverware’ – it’s ridiculous. The only team you know you’re going to play is in the Premier League and then should they win the league because they’re Tottenham? No.
“Winning silverware, it’s nice and okay, but doing well and getting as far as you can in the league is the most important thing because it shows you the consistency you have, the team that you actually are.”
While Liverpool and Tottenham remain trophyless under Klopp and Pochettino, both managers have vastly improved their respective clubs.
The Reds finished the 2018/19 Premier League season on 97 points, just one point behind Manchester City in a memorable title race.
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Meanwhile, Pochettino has transformed Spurs into a top-four team without overspending on transfers.
Liverpool and Tottenham also beat the odds to reach this season’s Champions League final with Klopp’s side overturning a three-goal deficit against Barcelona from the first leg and Pochettino’s men coming from two goals down to beat Ajax in their respective semi-finals.
Barnes, 55, added: “Who would have expected Tottenham to get to a Champions League final?
“Would you then say Tottenham have finished fourth and are in a Champions League final, Pochettino has now failed?
“Which manager could come to Tottenham and make Tottenham win the Premier League and the Champions League? There’s no manager alive at the moment who you’d expect to do that with Tottenham.
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Jurgen Klopp has lost finals in the Europa League, Carabao Cup and Champions League with Liverpool
“So, why then say Pochettino has failed? It’s the same with Klopp. Liverpool shouldn’t finish second in the league, they should be fourth.
“They shouldn’t beat Barcelona 4-0 to get to the final, but they did.
“Maybe if you’re at Man City, you can be criticised for not winning anything or even Manchester United because they have a bigger squad and have spent more money.
“But to then say Klopp or Pochettino have failed because they have not won silverware – that’s ridiculous.”
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Barnes, who won two top-flight titles and two FA Cups with Liverpool, still thinks it will be a successful season for the Reds – even if they lose to Tottenham in Madrid.
He said: “When you look at the season we’ve had, losing one (league) game all season, beating Bayern Munich in the Champions League, beating Barcelona 4-0 to get to the final.
“If we lose, it’ll be disappointing, but it still would have been a tremendous season.”
Watch the Champions League final live on Saturday 8pm on BT Sport. Watch live on TV and via the BT Sport App. For more info visit bt.com/sport.
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