If you want a true indication of how barmy football can be, Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked – and could go into a bigger role than the job he’s just lost.
It wasn’t a mutual agreement, they just got rid of him. Yet I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at Manchester United or Real Madrid in the next few weeks or months, both bigger clubs.
And that tells you the job he has done, despite the lost direction. I know Pochettino hasn’t won anything – and that is always important – but I still believe he’s been a victim of his own success.
He’s set a standard there, where Spurs have almost been able to bank on a top-four finish, Champions League and the money that brings.
They’ve also been able to bank on quality recruitment and a steady conveyor belt of youth without breaking the bank.
They were in the Champions League final five months ago with that policy – and so you can see why United or Real would be interested.
In some ways, he’s like Jurgen Klopp, in that he can get creative to produce competitive teams without having to spend huge amounts.
I can see the fact that Pochettino is now a free agent putting intense pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
Ole’s press conference before the weekend was about a potential replacement, not United’s visit to Bramall Lane.
And, actually, the focus should be on that because it’s a horribly difficult fixture and the sort that inspires questions from fans if it’s lost.
I love what Chris Wilder is doing at Sheffield United and he’s got an honest team – who proved against Liverpool they can give the best sides a real test.
Yet United are still expected to win and, if they don’t, the Pochettino question will be inevitable.
It’s tough on Solskjaer and ideally he’ll have a decent winning run now so he doesn’t have to face that awful pressure.
But it is a barmy world, is football.
