COPY & PASTE

Pochettino: I love the Prem but there are just way too many impersonators in today's era

- TOM HOPKINSON

MAURICIO POCHETTINO loves the beautiful game that most Premier League teams try to play.

Which isn't surprising given the philosophy of football he brought to Southampton and Tottenham, and is now implementing at Chelsea.

 But he also admits the fact so many managers are trying to copy the playbooks of Johan Cruyff or Marcelo Bielsa means that some of the identity of the British game is seeping away.

Like Pochettino, Bournemouth's new boss Andoni Iraola played under Bielsa.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (right) studied Bielsa's methods, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta served as Guardiola's No.2 at The Etihad, and Burnley manager Vincent Kompany spent his final years as a player under Guardiola.