‘It’s really sad’ — Pochettino on Tottenham’s relegation battle

By Adegboyega Adeleye

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said he is “really sad” to watch his former club suffer in their fight against relegation from the Premier League.

Pochettino was in charge of the London club from 2014 to 2019 and took them to the Champions League final, but was sacked after a poor start to the following season.

He guided Spurs to a second-placed finish in the league in 2016-17 and reached the Champions League final in 2019 during a five-year spell in north London.

However, in a contrasting turn of events, Tottenham are currently 18th in the table, two points from safety with four games to play in the Premier League.

Appearing 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.”

Pochettino joined Paris St-Germain after leaving Tottenham before a return to the Premier League with Chelsea, and is now preparing to lead co-hosts USA at this summer’s World Cup, but the 54-year-old has indicated he would like to work in the Premier League again in the future.

“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.”

Tottenham’s win over relegated Wolves on Saturday was their first league victory this year, and they travel to fifth-placed Aston Villa on Sunday.