Mauricio Pochettino will be back at Tottenham on Monday evening for the first time in four years since he was fired. He has not ruled out the chance of managing the club once more.
The manager of Chelsea was with Spurs for five years, during which they came in second place in the Premier League and made it to the Champions League final. During this time, the Argentinian oversaw the team’s move to a remarkable new stadium. It’s not surprising to hear him express excitement about returning to the venue, although he is prepared for a potentially unwelcoming reception from a crowd that used to admire him.
Pochettino emphasized that his strong emotional connection and love for Tottenham will not be affected by negative reactions from home fans. He even envisions the possibility of returning to the club on a permanent basis. When asked about his previous statement of wanting to win a trophy with the club before he dies, the 51-year-old replied, “Who knows what the future holds? We must focus on enjoying the present and not worry too much about what may come. But if the opportunity arises and they are interested in having me, why not?” This desire was first expressed by Pochettino in April 2020, six months after being dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy.
There have been multiple reports linking Pochettino to a return to Tottenham Hotspur since he left the club in November 2019. This includes rumors before Ange Postecoglou was hired in June, when Pochettino supposedly expressed interest after being fired from Paris Saint-Germain last year. His recent comments may not sit well with Chelsea fans. However, it should be noted that Pochettino also stated a desire to stay at Stamford Bridge long-term – “I hope to be here until I pass away!” – and overall, he did not want to offend either side of the London rivalry that will be on display in the north of the city on Monday.
He stated that we must not underestimate the fans of Chelsea and Tottenham. The Chelsea fans are aware of our time at Tottenham, as well as the intense situations in the Champions League and the Battle of the Bridge. It would be impossible to hide our emotions in these circumstances. I cannot pretend to forget everything at Tottenham; that would be foolish. However, I will approach each game with a natural desire to win. At the same time, I will also cherish the opportunity to be back at a place where I played a role in creating something special. I am feeling very calm and hopeful for a successful night for our team.
Chelsea is aiming to return to their winning streak in the Premier League following their defeat to Brentford. According to Pochettino, this will be a tough task as they will be facing a strong opponent who is a genuine contender for the title. However, the team can find some encouragement from their previous record of winning four out of their last six matches against Spurs. Additionally, there is a possibility that their captain, Reece James, will make his second consecutive start after playing for 61 minutes in their recent Carabao Cup win against Blackburn, despite recovering from a hamstring injury.
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“I am determined to win and defeat them,” stated Pochettino, clarifying that he will not make the mistake of heading to the opposing team’s dugout before the start of Monday’s game, similar to what Ron Atkinson did in the late 1990s. “I am familiar with the away dugout because I personally chose its location with the architects. The home team’s dugout is on the right, while the away team’s is on the left.”
Source: theguardian.com
