Pochettino Comments on Spurs' Possible Relegation From the Premier League
Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, has commented on Spurs’ current fight to avoid relegation. With Spurs facing a dramatic few games, and Pochettino preparing to lead the USA in the World Cup, we recap and analyse his thoughts on where Spurs are now, as well as whether he could ever return to the North London club.
Pochettino’s Thoughts on Spurs’ Current Predicament
Pochettino has expressed sadness at Spurs facing the prospect of relegation, saying that it hurt to see the club in trouble. "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,” said the Argentine, who led Tottenham to their highest-ever points tally of 86 in the 2016-17 season.
Pochettino retains a soft spot for Spurs despite having been sacked in November 2019. Despite the club flagging in his later seasons, troubles at Tottenham since then have seemingly confirmed that the problems were not down to Pochettino’s leadership alone.
How Bad Does It Look for Tottenham Right Now?
Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone with 3 games to play, two points behind Nottingham Forest who also have a game in hand. Their remaining fixtures are:
- Leeds United (home)
- Chelsea (away)
- Everton (home)
This is a daunting list, with Chelsea away being the harshest fixture. No doubt Chelsea fans would relish the chance to contribute to Spurs’ misery at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Everton have found formidable form on the road this season and will prove a stern test. Leeds, as ever, are unpredictable, although Tottenham should fancy their chances of winning in London.
The good news is that their relegation rivals West Ham also face a difficult run of games, including league leaders Arsenal at home and then a testing (and long) trip to the northeast, where they will play Newcastle United.
Spurs Give Themselves a Lifeline
Tottenham have just given themselves an advantage that few saw coming, beating European contenders Aston Villa at Villa Park. The team’s quality is clearly still there, with their go-to man Richarlison heading in the winning goal, although Unai Emery made significant changes to his Villa side ahead of their must-win Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
This win has put Spurs ahead of West Ham and out of the relegation zone, and every point is worth its weight in gold at this stage of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur Under Pochettino
Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino were a force to be reckoned with. “Poch”, as he is affectionately known, was initially an unpopular figure in England due to his famous foul on Michael Owen in the 1998 World Cup, plus the somewhat acrimonious circumstances in which he replaced Nigel Adkins at Southampton. However, he quickly built a loyal following at Tottenham, and his tenure oversaw the establishment of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min as part of a ferocious attacking line.
After performances declined, he was sacked by then-chairman Daniel Levy in November 2019. It’s worth noting that Levy has finally left his role as chairman of Tottenham in September 2025, which may open doors for Poch to return in the future.
Could Pochettino Return to Spurs?
An immediate return for Pochettino seems unlikely. He is currently the manager of the US national team, and his full focus will be on ensuring that they perform well in their co-hosted World Cup this summer. If he leads the US to a strong finish, he will likely be highly sought-after by clubs with big budgets. It’s even been rumoured that he could return to Real Madrid, which would guarantee football at the highest level even if it seems unlikely.
Would Pochettino Come to Spurs if They Were in the Championship?
The other question is whether Pochettino would be happy to coach in the Championship, if Spurs are relegated. While the odds are that he could lead Spurs back to the Premier League if he took the job, Tottenham would struggle to offer the kind of pay packet he’s likely used to, as well as an absence of high-level football.
Wrapping Up: It Could Be a While Before We See Poch Back in the Prem
Overall, it seems more probably that we could see Poch looking at a return to Spurs in the next 5-10 years. When asked about his thoughts on a return to Spurs, Pochettino replied, "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."
It can’t come soon enough for Spurs fans.
