PROJECT POCH CATCHES A COLD
The real optimism at Spurs has suddenly turned to concern about the boss’ future, the wage structure, the top four and new stadium
A FUTURE that not so long ago looked so bright doesn’t seem quite so rosy for Tottenham right now.
After a season that once promised so much, there are big doubts about Spurs.
About boss Mauricio Pochettino’s future at the club.
About their top-four chances with Chelsea now pressurising them.
About their ability to keep the squad together on a tight wages budget.
And about the impact the new stadium will have on their spending power.
Tottenham’s move into their new 62,000-seater home early next season marks the start of what should be an exciting new era.
Pochettino will, or should, be central to it and a smooth transition. But after last week’s deflating FA Cup semifinal defeat against Manchester United dashed their hopes of a first trophy under Pochettino, the Argentinian raised doubts about his future for the first time.
It was a day that gave the impression that Spurs are approaching a crossroads.
When quizzed further ahead of Tottenham’s return to action against Watford tonight, Pochettino said many of the right things.
He spoke about having three years left on his contract, and about how giving up on the Spurs project would be the “easy” option.
Yet swerving talk about whether he will be in charge next season will surely get tongues wagging.
Privately, Pochettino is as frustrated as anyone at Spurs about their failure to land silverware after near-misses in the league (twice), League Cup and now FA Cup.
He also harbours concerns about how far he can take them while being hamstrung by the club’s wage policy.
Pochettino has overachieved on the Premier League’s sixthbiggest wage budget but that wasn’t enough to keep Kyle Walker last term. It looks like it won’t persuade Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose or Mousa Dembele to stay this summer either.
It is testament to the job he has done in four years at Spurs that finishing above Arsenal this season has hardly been in doubt and clinching a topfour spot is now increasingly expected.
But resurgent Chelsea have cut Spurs’s cushion in fourth place to just two points in the last fortnight. Going out of the Champions League did not seem to hamper Spurs, who then went on a run of four straight wins, but they have lost two and drawn one of their last three. They can’t afford to blow it from here, especially with three of their four remaining games at home.
Poch said Spurs are ahead of the schedule set by chairman Daniel Levy (above). “We are victims of our own success because we are ahead in our project,” he said.
“In my first