Mauricio Pochettino has always been a pleasant presence – warm, engaging and easy to like. After a few weeks away from the constant glare of the media, the Sky Sports News crew gathered for a cheerful reunion, swapping summer anecdotes and sharing hearty embraces.
Pochettino’s break, however, was far busier than ours. The ex‑Tottenham manager steered the United States national side to the round of 16 at the World Cup, only to see the host nation’s aspirations shattered by a disciplined Belgian side. That result, while noteworthy, barely scratches the surface of what turned out to be an extraordinary fortnight for the Argentine tactician.
There was Donald Trump – an inevitable cameo – and the inevitable locker‑room pep talk. There was Trump, FIFA, and the reversal of Folarin Balogun’s suspension, and somewhere in the middle Pochettino inadvertently became a fashion figure. A few weeks later another headline emerged: Pochettino, perhaps to the surprise of many, had signed a fresh four‑year contract to remain in charge of the USA. Where to begin?
I grin before I tease, and Pochettino simply laughs, replying that he’s ready for whatever comes next. His reflections on the World Cup provide a natural starting point.
For him, the biggest lesson was how much he and his backroom team – especially his trusted deputy Jesús Pérez – have grown. “We are far better coaches now,” he asserts. That admission is telling because the tournament reinforced his hunger for continual learning and adaptation. He emphasizes the importance of the tiniest details, the difficulty of making flawless decisions, and the challenge of imparting his ideas to a group of players who spend far less time together than a club squad.
“Everything has to be perfect,” he adds. There were moments during the competition when the experience must have felt chaotic.
Managing at a World Cup is one thing; managing at a home World Cup for a nation whose president loves the spotlight is another. Unsurprisingly, Pochettino chose his words carefully, highlighting the support he received from Trump and the administration. When questioned about his involvement in overturning Balogun’s suspension, he admitted that “politics and manipulation” had clouded the Belgium match. He recognized the anger surrounding the episode, but he kept his role simple: “If you pay attention to the noise, you go mad.” FIFA eventually cleared Balogun, and Pochettino noted, “When the letter arrived the day before the game confirming Balogun was available, the decision was straightforward.” Balogun resurfaced in the news recently when a proposed transfer from Monaco to Everton fell through on deadline day.
Pochettino has not spoken to him yet, deliberately giving the striker space because he knows it would be a delicate situation. He would have liked to see Balogun in the Premier League, but the player remains at Monaco, and Pochettino hopes he can find a good footing there. Then there was the fashion angle.
Pochettino has always taken his attire seriously, yet few could have predicted the impact of his navy‑blue touchline outfit. The look generated its own headlines, especially after Wayne Rooney purchased a similar jacket. “I saw him.
He looked good on him, like a top coach,” Pochettino chuckles. It truly was a summer that had it all.
As the football world moved beyond the World Cup, rumors linking Pochettino to several clubs surfaced. Those whispers were short‑lived, however, as the news of his renewed commitment to the United States arrived. If he fulfills his contract until 2030, six years away from club football will feel like an eternity. Does that mark the end of his Premier League ambitions?
He says no. His desire is not merely to return to English football, but to compete for trophies. “I have the ambition,” he says. “My dream now is to be in the USA for four years, but after that, why not?
We’re still young, and I think coming back is always my goal – to win the Premier League, to be in the Premier League and to build a project with the possibility of winning.” “I love the football here. To have the chance again is one of my wishes and I hope that happens,” he adds.
That unfinished business reminds me of an interview I conducted with Pochettino about a year and a half ago, when he spoke of a longing to return to Tottenham. At the time, Spurs were struggling under Ange Postecoglou.
Since then, Postecoglou has departed, Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor have come and gone, and the club flirted dangerously with relegation. When asked if a rescue call ever came, Pochettino replied, “I always say, one day, why not?” Was there ever a realistic chance this time?
He answered, “People talk and maybe we receive some approach, but it never was close.” So the answer is no, not now. What about other potential jobs? At one point AC Milan seemed a plausible destination.
“We were not open during the World Cup to talk with different clubs that were interested,” he says. But were clubs interested?
“Yes, always,” he replies, as if it were the norm. “There are always different options.” I pressed further: “Did any of them come close to catching your attention?” “We never gave the opportunity to be close.
We always closed the door before it got close,” he says. Turning to Tottenham’s current situation, he notes, “They are investing like other clubs,” acknowledging the shift after a couple of difficult seasons. The Spurs have altered their strategy, splashing cash on players already accustomed to the Premier League.
Pochettino reflects on how close he once came to delivering league and European glory with a modest budget, and jokes that he could barely imagine what £300 million looks like. “Do you think this new spending strategy will work?” I ask.
“You never know,” he replies. “We need time to see if that works or not. Like in all games, a coach’s decision can succeed or fail.
It’s a different strategy and a different way to operate. I always wish the best for Tottenham because it’s in my heart.” There has also been a major shift at his former club Chelsea.
The head‑coach role he held two years ago has been re‑branded as manager, and the club’s transfer policy now favours Premier League‑ready signings rather than long‑term projects under Xabi Alonso. Pochettino is reluctant to draw direct parallels, but he sees a similarity in ambition between the two clubs and concedes, “Buying players like this you can expect to fight, to be a contender for the Premier League.” Chelsea’s early defeat to Arsenal has already offered a reality check, yet Pochettino urges patience with Alonso.
“Of course they are disappointed after the loss to Arsenal, but I think we need to give time to Xabi’s first season after three games in the Premier League,” he says. “We need to give time, and of course the same for Tottenham.” Regarding Arsenal, Pochettino is candid: “Mikel [Arteta] is the best coach in the Premier League today. Knowing what he needs to do, it’s going to be tough to beat them.” Overall, Pochettino’s summer was a whirlwind of football, politics, fashion and speculation, but his focus remains clear: continue learning with the USA, keep his Premier League dream alive, and return when the right opportunity arises.