Just before half time in Tottenham's 3-2 win at West Ham on Saturday, Moussa Sissoko fouled Mark Noble, sparking a typically yappy reaction from the home captain. Noble, four inches shorter, squared-up to the Spurs midfielder, wagging a finger and barking in his face. Sissoko stood his ground, growling back in hostility.
It is easy to imagine this show of defiance, more than anything else, prompted Mauricio Pochettino to say afterwards: "I think Sissoko is doing very well. I am so happy with him this season."
Pochettino loves his players to fight for themselves, for their teammates and for him, and the Spurs manager will never condemn a bit of "argy-bargy".