Pochettino bars Tottenham players from PFA awards ceremony

Harry Kane and Dele Alli could receive major awards from the Professional Footballer's Association at this Sunday's 43rd annual awards ceremony in London. Too bad they won't be able to collect them in person. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has apparently banned his players from attending the ceremony, which will be held Sunday evening at the Grosvenor House in London.

Spurs have another critical home game against West Brom on Monday night, and Poche views the ceremony as a distraction that should be avoided with his team trying to chase down Leicester City. Here's how he responded when asked where his players would be during the ceremony:

"At home. At home. At home! But this is normal and all people can understand. It’s a shame but we play Monday.

"It’s true that the players would like to go but I think the responsibility when you have a big game for us like West Brom on Monday – you need to stay at home, rest and focus on the game. After the game on Monday, we have time for a party or to congratulate the players – for everything!"

Harry Kane is nominated for both the PFA Player of the Year and the Young Player of the Year awards, while his teammate Dele Alli is a nominee for Young Player of the Year. In addition, four Spurs players – Kane, Alli, Toby Alderweireld, and Danny Rose – were listed on the PFA's Team of the Year for this season.

Awards are great, but there's one award that Spurs would much rather win than a PFA trophy: the Premier League title. Pochettino is absolutely correct to, *ahem*, suggest that his players skip the gala to rest and prepare for West Brom. Spurs need Leicester to lose in order to catch up to them, but they'll have absolutely no chance if they do something stupid like drop points at home to West Brom.

Maybe Alli and Kane can get one of their people to Periscope the event.