Mauricio Pochettino on Tottenham’s relegation battle: It’s really sad
The current United States men’s national team head coach reflected on the current plight of his former side
Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, a few months after leading them to a Champions League final and with the side sitting 14th in the table following six exceptional years at the helm of the North London club. He holds no grudge, however, and takes no guilty pleasure in the club’s current plight.
Pochettino is preparing to manage the United States men’s national team at this summer’s World Cup in North America, but he still has an eye on the Premier League, where he once felt so at home. The Argentine spent a significant chunk of his career in England, and enjoyed his longest and most successful spell at Spurs, retaining a strong affection for the club.
At the end of last season, Ange Postecoglou suffered a fate not dissimilar to Pochettino’s after winning the Europa League but being sacked days afterwards. The message from the club’s hierarchy is consistent, at least: Premier League standings matter more than pursuing trophies.
There is a logic to that in that league finishes are generally the ticket to European football, but lack of balance in appraising a manager’s results arguably had harsh consequences for both Pochettino and Postecoglou.
Now on their third manager in the nine months since Postecoglou’s departure, Spurs are staring an outright disaster in the face at the end of the current season. After finishing 17th last season, they are currently 18th and in real danger of being relegated to the second-tier of English football for the first time since 1977.
Pochettino feels for Spurs fans amid relegation battle
Reflecting on his time with Tottenham, Pochettino could only speak fondly of the time he had there both as a coach and as a person. However, his nostalgia turned to sadness when it came to discussing the team’s current battle with relegation this season, which is looking ever more probable with just a handful of matches remaining.
“I really love Tottenham,” Pochettino said on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast.
“It’s going to be a part of my life, an important part of my life as a coach, my personal life too.
“It’s really sad because I know how the people are suffering there, inside the club and also the fans. It’s difficult to accept.”
Pochettino keen on a return to English football
Spells with Southampton, Spurs and Chelsea have made up a sizeable portion of Pochettino’s managerial career and he would love to go back one, day, too. Whether that would mean taking care of unfinished business at Spurs or a fresh challenge elsewhere remains to be seen.
“One day, yes, because I really like England,” said Pochettino with regards to a Premier League return.
“I think my profile – my human profile and my coaching profile – match very well with the Premier League.”
Many had envisioned Pochettino returning to the Tottenham dugout after the conclusion of his tenure with the USMNT at the World Cup but, with Roberto De Zerbi having signed a five-year deal without a relegation clause, it now appears unlikely that the Argentine will return to North London in the near future.
