HARRISON, N.J. -- Mauricio Pochettino has called for Tottenham's youngsters to be given time after the 3-2 defeat to Roma and said he is not aware of his chairman's comments about the club's transfer strategy.
On Tuesday, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy described the spending of Spurs' Premier League rivals as "totally unsustainable," and said: "We don't have to go and spend £20 million, £30m, £40m on a player and obviously that homegrown player has an affinity with the club that a player we buy doesn't."
Pochettino reflected that confidence in his starting XI for Tuesday evening's friendly in the International Champions Cup, starting Under-20 World Cup stars Cameron Carter-Vickers, Kyle Walker-Peters and Joshua Onomah for the second time in a week.
But, while the trio were bright, none made a significant impact and Carter-Vickers gave away a penalty for Diego Perotti's opener from the spot. The trio were replaced at half-time, with Spurs trailing 1-0.
Asked about Carter-Vickers, the USA youth international, playing in the States, Pochettino said: "I had the same question last game against PSG [in Orlando]. We need to judge him in a collective sense.
"He is so young and needs to improve and learn a lot. He is a potential player, yes, but then we'll see what happens in the end. He is like different players like Kyle Walker-Peters and Josh Onomah and today Anthony Georgiou and Tashan [Oakley-Boothe].
"Different players that are with us and have the possibility to play, to learn and show their quality, but it's important that we are talking about players that are so young and need time to settle in the first team and squad."
Asked about Levy's remarks, Pochettino appeared confused, and said: "I didn't hear that. It's better if you ask him if you have the possibility or I will ask him tomorrow if I have the possibility if it's true or not. It think it's important to speak about context.
"I don't know how was the interview from him, whether it's true or not. I did not hear that from him in private."
Roma's Cengiz Under made it 2-0 before Harry Winks, a half-time sub pulled a goal back. Vincent Janssen equalised in stoppage time before Marco Tumminello's last-second sucker-punch condemned Spurs to defeat.