Mauricio Pochettino admitted that watching his former club Tottenham Hotspur struggle to avoid relegation from the Premier League fills him with a profound sense of sorrow. The Argentine coach, who once led Spurs to a second‑place league finish in the 2016‑17 season and guided them to the 2019 Champions League final, said the current situation is "really sad" and difficult to accept. During an appearance on The Overlap’s "Stick to Football" podcast, Pochettino reflected on his emotional connection to the club. "I love Tottenham," he said, "it’s been a huge part of my life, both as a coach and personally.
To see the fans, the staff, everyone suffering because the team is fighting for survival – it hurts. It’s hard to come to terms with." The contrast between his tenure and the present day could not be starker.
When Pochettino arrived in north London, the club was in the midst of a massive infrastructure overhaul: the new stadium was under construction, the training complex was being upgraded, and the team was forced to play home matches at Wembley while the new ground was being completed. Despite limited transfer budgets – the club’s finances were tied up in the stadium project – Pochettino managed to keep Tottenham competitive, securing top‑four finishes and a memorable run to the Champions League final. He recalled the frustration of missing out on two high‑profile targets, Sadio Mané and Georginio Wijnaldum, who ultimately chose Liverpool and helped that side defeat Tottenham 2‑0 in the 2019 final. "Those were players I believed could have added a different dimension to our squad," Pochettino explained, "but the circumstances just didn’t allow it." In the podcast, he also highlighted the broader challenges the club faced during his spell.
"We were building a new training ground, finishing the stadium, playing at Wembley and even at Milton Keynes for a while. All of that was happening while we tried to stay competitive on the pitch," he said. "We managed to win a FA Cup and a Carabao Cup, but the lack of consistent investment in the squad meant we could never make that final push for the title." Pochettino noted that Spurs went an unprecedented 18 months without a single signing – a record in the modern Premier League era. "We had money, but not the right kind of money to bring in players who could take us to the next level," he lamented.
"We kept challenging, we kept fighting, but we missed that crucial step that separates a good team from a great one." Five months after the Champions League final, Pochettino was dismissed by then‑chairman Daniel Levy following a poor start to the 2019‑20 campaign, and José Mourinho was installed as his successor. After a brief stint at Paris Saint‑Germain, the Argentine returned to England as Chelsea’s head coach in May 2023. However, his tenure at Chelsea lasted just one season, ending after a sixth‑place finish and a further wave of managerial turnover under the club’s new owners, BlueCo, who have already removed Liam Rosenior after only 23 games. When asked about the apparent chaos at Chelsea, Pochettino offered a measured view of BlueCo’s approach.
"I think they have a plan, even if it looks very different from the Roman Abramovich era," he said. "It’s not easy for outsiders to understand, and the owners need to communicate that strategy more clearly." Looking ahead, Pochettino is preparing to lead the United States at the upcoming World Cup, which the U.S., Mexico and Canada will co‑host this summer. Yet he hinted that a return to the Premier League remains a personal ambition.
"One day, yes – I love England," he affirmed. "My profile, both as a person and as a coach, fits well with the Premier League’s demands." He also elaborated on what he seeks in a new project and why his spell at Tottenham ultimately ended. "It was a very difficult situation," Pochettino said. "When a club offers me a role, I need to understand the reality – what they expect, what resources are available, and the overall philosophy.
At Tottenham, I understood the expectations from the start, but the environment became increasingly hostile from the outside. Decisions were being influenced by external pressure rather than internal assessment." Pochettino stressed the importance of having time to implement a clear strategy. "If you want to be competitive, you need the freedom to make the right choices over a reasonable period," he explained.
"When assessments come from outside the club and people start dictating how you should win, it undermines the whole process." In summary, Pochettino’s heartfelt comments reveal a deep bond with Tottenham Hotspur and a genuine disappointment at seeing the club now battling for survival. While his own managerial journey has taken him across Europe and back to the Premier League, his respect for English football endures, and he remains open to future opportunities in the league that shaped much of his career.