Poch: Spurs made mistake in selling ‘perfect player’

Matt Stead

Mauricio Pochettino admits Tottenham made a mistake when they sold Gylfi Sigurdsson to Swansea.

Sigurdsson spent two years at Spurs from 2012 to 2014, struggling to break into the first team for a consistent period of time under Andre Villas-Boas, Tim Sherwood or Pochettino.

After just two seasons in north London, the Iceland international was sold to Swansea, where he has impressed, scoring 32 goals in 105 appearances from midfield.

Pochettino, who sanctioned the sale of Sigurdsson within weeks of being appointed Tottenham manager, defended the decision to let him go, but admits he is now the “perfect player” for the club.

“When we arrived at Tottenham he was a player that was difficult to assess,” said Pochettino. “The decision was when we were in Seattle to play [him in] the first friendly game.

“I remember he was in the starting XI to play that match and I had a call to say ‘ok, the agreement is done with Swansea’. It was difficult to assess him.

“In that moment we had 34 senior players and to take the decision, it was too difficult to assess because we did not have time enough.

“I think after he moved to Swansea and we saw his development at Swansea, he was a perfect player for us. But in that moment it was the club decision and his decision to move to Swansea and find another way.

“Every time we meet him and see him he shows his quality, not only as a player but like a man. All the people here talk very highly about him. It’s a shame but sometimes in football you never know what will happen in the future.

“There is no regret. When you find in the club 34 players it’s difficult to assess them all in the first few weeks, and when the club and player decide to move, there is nothing you can do about that.”