MAURICIO REIGN TURNS SOUR TO PAVE WAY FOR MOURINHO
JOSE FAVOURITE TO BE NEW SPURS MANAGER AFTER POCHETTINO PAYS PRICE FOR SLUMP
TOTTENHAM’S dramatic decision to sack Mauricio Pochettino has left them with the huge task of replacing their most successful Premier League boss.
A team outside the established elite when the former Argentina defender was appointed in 2014 were quickly transformed into a dynamic and exciting young side despite limited spending in the transfer market.
As well as going through two transfer windows without signing anyone, Pochettino also had to contend with 18 months playing at Wembley while Tottenham’s new stadium was built.
After a fifth-place finish in his first season, Tottenham came third, second, third and fourth in his next four full seasons in charge. The intensity and energy of the team’s pressing were
If Mourinho gets the Spurs job he may face financial constraints he is not used to
stand-out qualities under Pochettino, who became one of the world’s most sought-after managers, with rumours throughout last season that he would end up at Manchester United.
The highlight of his tenure was Tottenham’s thrilling run to last season’s Champions League final.
Having scraped through the group stage, they beat Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City and Ajax to face Liverpool in the final where a hotly contested firstminute penalty was key to their 2-0 defeat.
However, in the run-up to the final Pochettino, who had three years left to run on his contract, had suggested he would be ready to leave the club if Tottenham won in Madrid – the first signs of fractures in the unity of a side that appeared so strong as wins over Ajax and City were sealed in breathless fashion. Pochettino’s disgruntlement has since been evident with key players, such as Christian Eriksen and Toby
Alderweireld, reportedly keen to leave and a sense the team had gone stale and needed a shake-up.
The pressure on Pochettino grew during four dismal days at the start of October, a 7-2 home defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League followed by a 3-0 reverse at Brighton. The previous week, Spurs lost to fourth-tier Colchester in the League Cup.
Spurs say they will announce their new coaching staff ‘in due course’, with
Finest hour: Pochettino celebrates Tottenham reaching the Champions League final after victory over Ajax former Manchester United and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (pictured) early favourite to take the reins.
The Portuguese is admired by Levy, who has approached him in the past, while Mourinho has spoken positively about Spurs and has been seen watching some of their games this season.
If Mourinho does replace Pochettino, he may have to work under financial constraints he is not used to. While Spurs have competed at the top end of
the Premier League for the last four seasons, they have not matched their rivals in the spending department.
They became the first Premier League side not to make a signing during the summer transfer window in 2018 and followed that up with another blank window in January.
That Spurs still reached such heights is testament to the job Pochettino did, with back-to-back title challenges and their highest league finish since 1963.