[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino produced an eye-catching response when a journalist asked him if he could manage Real Madrid in the future on Monday night, and his comments only further signal his heart just isn’t in it at Spurs anymore.
What did he say?
Speaking at the FIFA Best Awards, Pochettino told Edu Aguirre of El Chiringuito TV when questioned about whether he would be interested in a potential role at Real Madrid: “Maybe some year.”
The comments came on the back of a tough week for the north London outfit, who saw their two-goal advantage ruled out away at Olympiacos in the Champions League as they returned to England with one point instead of three, while Leicester City came from behind to beat them in the Premier League on Saturday.
Pochettino’s heart isn’t in it
It was just the latest sign that the 47-year-old isn’t happy at Tottenham, and who could blame him?
He had already thrown some doubt on his future immediately after the club’s Champions League defeat when asked whether he was staying, as he said: “It is not moment now to talk too much, as it can be interpreted in different ways.”
With Christian Eriksen wanting out and the contracts of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen due to expire next summer with no sign of extensions being agreed as things stand, the Argentine manager is in danger of losing three key players from the team he has been building ever since he was appointed in 2014.
In addition Danny Rose, Serge Aurier and Victor Wanyama all featured against Leicester despite the club reportedly wanting to offload them during the summer.
Something is clearly wrong and even the fans are beginning to question him following recent results, while Pochettino himself accused his players of failing to respect the game-plan against Olympiacos – the type of outburst you don’t often see from the former Southampton chief.
The Daily Mail has reported that he had to hold clear-the-air talks with Daniel Levy following a deterioration of their relationship during the summer, which won’t have helped.
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Pochettino could easily have side-stepped the Real Madrid question on Monday, but the fact that he didn’t probably tells you all you need to know – The Mirror also recently reported that he would be the La Liga giants’ first-choice should they choose to axe Zinedine Zidane.
It could be a bumpy few days and weeks if the poor run of form continues then.