Mauricio Pochettino ‘really sad’ watching Tottenham’s Premier League relegation battle | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino has expressed profound sadness over his former club Tottenham Hotspur’s current struggle against Premier League relegation.

The Argentine, who famously led Spurs to a second-placed league finish in 2016-17 and a Champions League final appearance in 2019, has watched his old side drop into the bottom three in the Premier League table with just four matches remaining this season.

Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Pochettino conveyed his deep emotional connection to the club.

"It’s really sad, I really love Tottenham, it’s going to be a part of my life, an important part of my life as a coach, my personal life too," he stated.

"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."

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Pochettino led Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 (PA Wire)

His successful five-year tenure in north London coincided with significant infrastructure projects, including the construction of the club’s state-of-the-art stadium and training ground.

This period saw Spurs play 'home' fixtures at Wembley, with transfer funds often restricted due to the substantial investment elsewhere.

Pochettino revealed he had targeted players like Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom ultimately joined Liverpool and were instrumental in the side that defeated Spurs in the Champions League final.

Reflecting on the challenges, Pochettino added: "It’s a shame. We were winning every season because with all the circumstances that we were fighting, we spent 18 months with not one signing. That was a record in the Premier League.

“We had money to spend but not the type of money to improve, to be close to win or to challenge. We challenged, we challenged to win. But we missed this last step."

Pochettino was dismissed by then-chairman Daniel Levy five months after the Champions League final, and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

After a brief spell with PSG, he returned to the Premier League as Chelsea head coach in May 2023. However, his tenure at Stamford Bridge lasted just 12 months, ending after a sixth-placed finish amid what has become a familiar cycle of managerial changes under Chelsea owners BlueCo, who recently sacked Liam Rosenior after only 23 games in charge.

When questioned about the perceived chaos at Chelsea, Pochettino offered a nuanced view of BlueCo’s strategy.

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Pochettino also managed Chelsea, and hopes to return to the Premier League one day (PA Wire)

"I think they have a plan. Maybe it is completely different than it was in the past with (former owner Roman) Abramovich. It’s true it’s not easy for people to understand…I think they need to explain the plan."

Looking ahead, Pochettino is set to lead the United States into this summer’s World Cup, but he indicated a strong desire to manage in the Premier League again.

"One day yes, because I really like England," he affirmed. "I think my profile – my human profile and my coaching profile – match very well with the Premier League."