POCHETTINO IN RACE TO REPLACE ZIZOU?
Paris, June 1: The race to succeed Zinedine Zidane is on following the Frenchman’s shock resignation from Real Madrid on Thursday, only days after steering the Spanish giants to a third successive Champions League trophy.
Tottenham’s Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino tops the bookmakers’ list of favourites, with Chelsea handler Antonio Conte and former long- time Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also in the mix. As a former centreback with Barcelona- based Espanyol, Mauricio Pochettino has vast experience of Spain’s La Liga.
But it is the 46- year- old Argentinian’s coaching nous, man- management skills and consistency with Tottenham Hotspur that has hoisted him among the favourites to replace Zidane.
Pochettino signed a new, improved contract extension until 2023 last week and Spanish sports newspaper AS reported on Friday that it does not contain any written agreement allowing him to leave if Real make an approach.
Amid claims that Chelsea’s players are fed up with his demanding training sessions and intense ways, Antonio Conte could soon be on his way out of the club, who have been linked to current Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri.
But whether the 48- yearold Italian is an adequate replacement for the taciturn Zidane, and the right choice for such a demanding club, is up for debate.
Arsene Wenger is available and has the name and the top- level experience, having coached Arsenal for 22 years in England’s Premier League and, less regularly, in Real’s favourite playground of the Champions League.
But would Real Madrid’s demanding fans back the 68- year- old Frenchman, whose last piece of silverware with the Gunners came in 2017 with the FA Cup? His last league honours date back 13 years to 2004, proving the steady decline during his long reign.