Chelsea-bound Pochettino makes stance on Spurs return clear to ex-player – ‘I had a conversation’

Lewis Oldham
Pochettino on Tottenham

Jermaine Jenas has revealed Mauricio Pochettino’s stance on returning to Tottenham Hotspur in the future for a second stint as manager.

Pochettino has been out of work since he left Ligue 1 giants PSG at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The 51-year-old previously did a superb job at Spurs. He won 159 of his 293 games in charge and he guided them to the 2018/19 Champions League final.

The Argentinian is now set to return to the Premier League as he has ‘agreed’ to become Chelsea’s new permanent head coach.

Pochettino has a major job on his hands at Stamford Bridge. Since taking over on an interim basis earlier this month, Frank Lampard has lost all five of his games in charge.

Spurs are also on the lookout for a new permanent manager. Antonio Conte left the club last month and Cristian Stellini followed him out of the door after the club’s embarrassing 6-1 loss to Newcastle United.

Ryan Mason has took over until the summer and ex-Bayern Munich boss Julen Nagelsmann is considered the favourite to replace him.

Former Tottenham midfielder Jenas has now revealed that Pochettino was “very open about the fact he sees himself back at Spurs”.

“Mauricio’s obviously edging towards Chelsea because Tottenham don’t want him. That’s the only reason. If they wanted him they’d have gone and got him the minute [Antonio] Conte left,” Jenas told The Mirror.

“I had a conversation with Mauricio during lockdown and he was very open about the fact he sees himself back at Spurs one day. So, he clearly left the door open for that to happen but for whatever reason, the club and Daniel don’t see that as an option.

“It feels like a bit of a reset moment and in these moments, you’re gonna need someone at the helm with a certain level of experience of managing big football clubs but also, one thing I know the fans are pretty sick of is the type of football they’ve had to watch for the last two or three managers. It hasn’t been enjoyable for them.”

READ MORE: Harry Kane *and* Dele Alli under Pochettino at Chelsea? A Spurs sadist’s wet dream

Journalist Dean Jones thinks Chelsea and England midfielder Mason Mount is “likely to thrive” working under Pochettino.

“Of all the players Pochettino is set to inherit in the new job, perhaps none seem more likely to thrive under him than 24-year-old Mount,” Jones told GiveMeSport.

“A typical Pochettino Premier League line-up could see Mount play an advanced role in a 4-2-3-1 formation and as the counter-pressing figure in that team his levels from past Chelsea seasons could quickly re-emerge.”

READ MORE: Youngsters, full-backs and a countryman… Five Chelsea players right up Pochettino’s street