• Governing body forced to apologise for mocking Tottenham striker • ‘We need to protect our assets, our English players,’ says Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino has branded the Football Association an embarrassment for its tweet that mocked the performance of Harry Kane in last Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was well marshalled by United’s Chris Smalling at Wembley and after the game, which United won 2-1, the official FA Cup account tweeted: “What’s that in your pocket, Chris?” and linked to an unrelated video of the defender saying: “Harry Kane.”

The tweet was deleted and the FA apologised to both Tottenham and United “for any offence caused”. But Pochettino has now laid bare the depth of the surprise and ill-feeling at Spurs. The manager was incredulous that the FA should have goaded a player who will be a key component of Gareth Southgate’s England squad at the World Cup finals in Russia. Kane is expected to captain the team.

“It was embarrassing, no?” Pochettino said of the tweet. “It was a shame, because the FA is English football and Harry is a potential captain at the World Cup. It is difficult to understand, very difficult, and they have apologised about that.

“The situation disappointed me. The fact it happened and then they apologised after a few days. But move on. That is the reality. We need to protect our assets, our English players, our young players.”

Kane has endured a testing period. He was also ribbed after he fought to be credited with a goal that brushed in off him at Stoke City on 7 April. The PFA’s chairman, Ben Purkiss, joked at the Player of the Year awards dinner last Sunday: “Kane is so prolific, he is able to score without touching the ball.”

Pochettino said: “Harry was very sad [about the FA’s tweet]. But he’s strong in his mind. He’s moved on. We are helping him to move on. It was a mistake and he needs to move on quick.”

There is the strong feeling at Tottenham that Kane has not been afforded the respect he deserves and Pochettino described it as “strange” that people in England did not always get behind England’s best players. Dele Alli, another of Tottenham’s England contingent, is routinely booed at Premier League grounds.

“These types of situation – like the tweet after the game – don’t help to create a good atmosphere,” Pochettino said.

“I’m sure that Harry is not happy. When we talk about passion, about feeling, you are proud to defend your country – we need to be careful in the way we send out messages.”