Mauricio Pochettino, the former manager of Tottenham Hotspur, has recently claimed that his team should have been awarded the 2016-17 Premier League title due to rule violations by Chelsea during the era of their former owner, Roman Abramovich. Pochettino was in charge of Tottenham during that season, and the club finished second behind Chelsea. He argues that if the rules had been consistently enforced, Spurs might have had a better chance to improve their squad and win the title. The controversy stems from a series of financial rule breaches committed by Chelsea, which were uncovered and self-reported by the club in 2022. These breaches included secret payments to unlicensed agents and intermediaries during player transfers, such as those involving Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Willian, and Nemanja Matic. As a result, Chelsea was fined £10 million by the Football Association and £10.75 million by the Premier League. However, the club did not face a points deduction or a transfer ban, despite the severity of the violations. Pochettino believes that the lack of a points deduction for Chelsea created an unfair advantage, as it allowed them to maintain their position as league champions. He acknowledged that Chelsea, under manager Antonio Conte, were a strong team and played well during that season. However, he argues that if a club breaks the rules, the title should be awarded to the team that finished in second place. Pochettino also criticized the current system, suggesting that it might unintentionally encourage other clubs to break the rules if they believe they can avoid serious consequences. In addition to his comments on the 2016-17 season, Pochettino mentioned that winning the title might have prevented his eventual dismissal from Tottenham in 2019. He also expressed sympathy for Daniel Levy, the former chairman of Tottenham, who was forced out of the club last year. While Pochettino remains open to a potential return to Spurs, he felt the timing was not right for a reunion last season.