Mauricio Pochettino accepts Tottenham remain vulnerable to losing players while the European transfer window remains open.

Although the deadline to sign new players has passed for Premier League clubs, teams on the continent can still add to their squads.

September 2 is the last day clubs from Europe can buy players, with Christian Eriksen among the Spurs stars linked with exits.

Eriksen is into the last year of his contract and is reportedly a target for Real Madrid, while Jan Vertonghen’s deal is also expiring.

Pochettino, though, is unwilling to blame uncertainty over his squad for Spurs being outplayed at Manchester City on Saturday, his side claiming a 2-2 draw at the home of the champions after Gabriel Jesus’ late goal was disallowed by VAR.

“I think it’s not an excuse. I am not complaining about the situation, only explaining it,” he told reporters. “Of course, we still need to wait to see what happens with our squad. Maybe some players are still in a situation where things can happen.

“We are not a closed squad where nobody is going to move. Maybe nobody will move. The circumstances are that things are still open. The market in Europe makes things difficult in the way that we work and this type of situation doesn’t help the coaching staff to create a good dynamic.

“Of course, we are going to start our sixth season at Tottenham and I think we’re world champions at adapting ourselves to different circumstances. It’s a great experience. We are going to be one of the best coaching staffs in the world at adapting to circumstances.

“Today when you play against a team like Manchester City, with all the circumstances we have inside our team, I think 2-2 and a point is massive.

“Credit to the team and everyone who is working hard, trying to keep going, working, trying to not be focused on the circumstances, just positive, faith and hope. That is massive.

“I don’t know if people realise or not. I don’t care about that. Only that the circumstances are not the best and the challenge is massive. So happy because the will of the players, their commitment and with all the circumstances we’re trying to get a good result for the club and for our fans.”

City thought they had claimed all three points in added time when Jesus finished well, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check found the ball hit Aymeric Laporte on the arm in the build-up.

“I accept now that the VAR is in football. I was a little bit critical in the past,” Pochettino added. “That wasn’t nice for the people to hear from me. I love football that was 30 years ago or more.

“Still I am watching football from the past. I love it and the way the referee was the boss. It’s not another person who can make a decision. It’s up to him if he sees it or not, not whether it was wrong or right.

“Now we give it to technology and the new era in football. We’re going to accept the rules. I will accept in the future because for sure in the future some decisions will be against us. I’m going to accept it in the same way with the same face. The rules are the rules and the VAR is here.”