Mauricio Pochettino, the former manager of Tottenham and the current head coach of the United States men’s national team, described the Premier League club’s decline as “really sad.”
Pochettino managed Spurs for six years from 2014 to 2019, during which he led them to the Champions League final in 2019 and saw them compete for the Premier League title.
Since his exit, Tottenham has appointed seven permanent managers, with Roberto De Zerbi as the most recent, currently working to prevent relegation with just four league matches remaining this season.
Although the club ended its trophy drought under Ange Postecoglou by winning the Europa League last year, their domestic performance was disappointing, culminating in a 17th place finish.
Pochettino expressed his nostalgia for his time at Spurs and lamented their current struggles.
“It’s really sad. I have a deep affection for Tottenham, and it will always hold a significant place in my life, both as a coach and as a person,” Pochettino shared during an episode of “The Overlap” podcast.
“It’s heartbreaking because I see the suffering among the fans and those inside the club.”
Pochettino reflected with pride on his tenure at Spurs, given the backdrop of change and the limited transfer activity.
“At that time, I tried to convey my vision. It was an incredible phase as we finished our training facility, moved to our new stadium, and played at Wembley while remaining competitive,” he said.
“We were successful every season despite the challenges. We went 18 months without a single signing, a Premier League record. Tottenham can claim they had money to spend, but not enough to seriously improve and contend for titles. We aspired to win, but we were lacking that final push.”
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Pochettino will lead the U.S. Men’s National Team into the World Cup in North America this June, but he has expressed a desire to one day return to the Premier League.
“Yes, one day, because I really love England,” he stated. “I believe my background and coaching style align well with the Premier League.”