Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino defends decision to publish book on last season amid slump in form

• e-mail

Mauricio Pochettino has defended his decision to publish a tell-all book in the middle of Tottenham's season amid a slump in form in the Premier League.

Since the first extract of the book was serialised by Sportsmail, Tottenham have taken only seven points from six Premier League games, with Spurs losing to Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester, while they also drew at home to West Brom last weekend.

Tottenham are now 16 points behind League leaders Manchester City and in 7th place ahead of the weekend visit to Watford.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has seen his side slump in their last two games

Pochettino has defended his decision to publish a book on Tottenham's 2016-17 season

Pochettino's book, written with Guillem Balague, was released on October 28

The book, entitled Brave New World, is a searingly honest account that acts both as a biography of Pochettino's life and a reflection on their last season. While the book details the secrets of Tottenham's success, it also explains disagreements with key players such as Eric Dier during the campaign.

Pochettino, however, dismissed suggestions there is a link between Tottenham's form and the book.

Pochettino said: 'When the book first appeared, we beat Real Madrid in the Champions League and Liverpool in the Premier League. I want to say thank you to people who write this story (about the book affecting Tottenham's form) because it gives publicity to the book and more money will go to charity. If we sell more books, we help more people.

'It's an amazing book because all of you can read what happens in a season for a professional club. The problem is when you lie, when you lie inside and want to be different. But for me I am here how I am inside.

'So I am more than happy if the book is the problem (for players). Then it is easy – on the bench or out of the list.'

Pochettino was not paid an advance for the book, written in conjunction with author Guillem Balague, but says his proceeds from royalties will go to a charity that is still to be decided.

Spurs have taken one point from their last two matches against West Brom and Leicester

Pochettino is not the first manager to collaborate over a book while still at the club. Sir Alex Ferguson published Managing My Life in 2000 while at Manchester United while Pep Guardiola permitted access to Catalan writer Marti Pernerau for a book while he managed Bayern Munich.

In his book, Pochettino wrote that he feared that some of his reflections may 'verge on arrogance' and 'the idea of drifting over to the dark side worries me.'

Pochettino, however, does not believe the book is a sign of arrogance and insists he wants to remain true to his roots.

Pochettino rejected claims that Dele Alli is out of form at the moment for Tottenham

He added: 'When people praise you and say "He is so good", usually the temptation is to cross the limit and live in a life that is in the dark side. 

'Always I am so careful, so conscious that I don’t want to cross this line. I don't want to become crazy for the praise because we win or we achieve things. That is my worry. 

'To be conscious and stop before I cross the line because it is difficult to come back after. I don't want to lose my identity when I was a child. 

'I was humble and grew up with values and will not change because I am manager of Tottenham or I am very famous. Or because I have money enough to buy a car… it cannot affect me.'