Mauricio Pochettino 'apologises to Tottenham Hotspur fans'

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has 'apologised' to his team's supporters after Sunday's 5-1 defeat at Newcastle United saw them finish the season in third spot in the Premier League table.

Despite being Leicester City's closest challengers over the last couple of months, Spurs have ended the campaign in third after failing to secure the point they needed to be sure of second on the final weekend.

Arsenal's 4-0 win at home to Aston Villa saw the Gunners grab second, and Pochettino has said that the whole club "are very disappointed" to have ended the season with a heavy defeat at St James' Park.

"First of all I would like to apologise to our fans, I think they don't deserve all that happened today on the pitch and I apologise. It was a shame and difficult to understand. In the last couple of weeks when you do not play with 100% it is impossible to win games and after Chelsea something happened," Pochettino told reporters.

"We cannot manage games in the right way. I am very disappointed because our fans don't deserve it, it is difficult to go tonight and see my boys and my wife. I think it is unbelievable and we are very disappointed.

"We had the possibility to stay second and how we lost and how we gave to the opponent that is relegated, in the first and second half, they score three goals with 10 players it is the worst day as a manager and I feel very disappointed. We need to be sure that never happens again and need to improve our mentality. We were on holiday and that is the reality."

Tottenham only won one of their last five league games this season.