Mauricio Pochettino recently opened up about the profound disappointment he feels watching his former side, Tottenham Hotspur, struggle to stay clear of the Premier League drop zone. The former manager, who led the club to a runner‑up league finish in the 2016‑17 season and guided them to the Champions League final in 2019, described his emotions as "really sad" when reflecting on the current situation. During an appearance on The Overlap’s "Stick to Football" podcast, Pochettino said, "It’s really sad, I really love Tottenham, it’s going to be a part of my life, an important part of my life as a coach, my personal life too.
It’s really sad because I know how the people are suffering there, inside the club and also the fans. It’s difficult to accept." His words capture both personal affection for the club and empathy for the players, staff and supporters who are enduring a painful campaign. Spurs now sit 18th in the league table, just two points away from safety with only four matches left to play. The contrast with the optimism of Pochettino’s tenure could not be starker.
Back then, the club was in the midst of a massive infrastructure overhaul: the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was being completed, the state‑of‑the‑art training complex was finished, and the team even played a number of "home" fixtures at Wembley while the new ground was being readied. Despite those logistical challenges and limited transfer funds, Pochettino’s side remained highly competitive, consistently challenging for top‑four positions and securing a place in Europe’s premier competition.
He recalled the frustration of missing out on marquee signings, noting that both Sadio Mané and Georginio Wijnaldum, players he had identified as ideal fits for Spurs, ultimately chose Liverpool. Those two later featured in the Liverpool side that defeated Tottenham 2‑0 in the 2019 Champions League final, a result that still stings for many Spurs supporters. Pochettino reflected on the paradox of his era: "We were in a situation that was amazing because I think the training ground, we finished the training ground, we finished the stadium, we moved to Wembley to play, to Milton Keynes to play many games.
At the same time, we were very competitive. But this idea of how it can affect the environment and the people outside and the people that make the decision inside… It’s one title, it’s one to win a FA Cup, it’s to win a Carabao Cup.
It’s a shame. We were winning every season because with all the circumstances that we were fighting, we spent 18 months with not one signing.
That was a record in the Premier League. We had money to spend but not the type of money to improve, to be close to win or to challenge.
We challenged, we challenged to win. But we missed this last step." Five months after the Champions League final, Pochettino was dismissed by then‑chairman Daniel Levy following a poor start to the 2019‑20 season, and Jose Mourinho was appointed as his successor. After a brief stint at Paris Saint‑Germain, Pochettino returned to the Premier League as Chelsea’s head coach in May 2023. However, his time in London was short‑lived; a sixth‑place finish led to his dismissal after just one season, a pattern that mirrors the frequent managerial turnover at Chelsea under the new BlueCo ownership, which has already seen Liam Rosenior removed 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. Maybe it is completely different than it was in the past with (former owner Roman) Abramovich. It’s true it’s not easy for people to understand… I think they need to explain the plan." His comments suggest that, despite the turbulence, there may be a strategic direction that has yet to be fully communicated.
Looking ahead, Pochettino is preparing to lead the United States national team at the upcoming World Cup, which the U.S., Mexico and Canada will co‑host this summer. Yet, the 54‑year‑old does not rule out a future return to English football.
"One day yes, because I really like England," he said. "I think my profile – my human profile and my coaching profile – match very well with the Premier League." Pochettino also explained why his spell at Tottenham ultimately ended. He described the situation as "really, really difficult" and emphasized the importance of clarity when accepting a new project. "If someone offers me a project, the possibility to coach, I want to know the reality.
I want to know what they expect from me. I want to know what I need to do, which is the reality of the club. And I think what happened in Tottenham is that I understood what they expected from me, from the beginning. Of course it was tough, but I think I cannot complain.
Only what I wanted to tell them is to say, ‘OK, that is the idea, that is the strategy, the philosophy of the culture that we were creating there.’ But if we wanted to be competitive, we need some time to make different decisions. The problem is when the assessment is not coming from inside the club, and the assessment comes from outside.
And when people start to intoxicate things and say, no, you should win with this team." In summary, Pochettino’s heartfelt remarks underscore the deep bond he feels with Tottenham and the anguish he experiences watching the club battle relegation. His reflections also highlight the broader challenges of modern football management, where financial constraints, infrastructure projects, and external expectations can all converge to shape a team’s fortunes. As the Spurs continue their fight for survival, the former manager’s words serve as a poignant reminder of the emotional stakes involved for everyone connected to the club.