Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted his affection for Real Madrid and club president Florentino Perez after his light-hearted comment drew a reaction from the club.

Last week, Pochettino had claimed that his team were denied permission to stay at the training ground in Madrid ahead of the Champions League.

“I asked Florentino to let us sleep in the sports centre but he told me that I can only sleep there when I become the coach of Real Madrid,” he said.

Madrid responded to these comments, explaining that the allegations made by the Spurs boss were false.

“Real Madrid CF is surprised by the demonstrations made by the coach of Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino, about a supposed request made to our club so that his team could stay in the residence of the Real Madrid City on the occasion of the final of the Champions League.

“Real Madrid CF wants to make it clear that it is outright false that this request was produced. Our club has always shown its absolute availability to meet all the requests made by UEFA, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Club Atletico de Madrid, Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur,” the official statement read.

With the ball in Pochettino’s court, the former Espanyol manager praised the club and the president, reiterating that his comment was made in good humour.

“I’m glad that Florentino understood my comments,” Pochettino said to Radio MARCA, in reference to an interview he had given to COPE’s El Partidazo.

“He’s a president who defined an era.

“I have huge affection for him and Real Madrid and I never intended to upset him or the club.”