With several frontrunners having dropped out of the running for the vacant Tottenham job, Mauricio Pochettino is being linked with a sensational return to the club.
Pochettino had a successful five-year spell at Spurs, turning them into perennial top four contenders and leading them to the 2019 Champions League final.
The end of his reign saw a drop off in performances, but many Spurs supporters still hold the Argentine manager in high regard, prompting some to suggest he should return.
In an appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football programme in November 2020, Pochettino was grilled by host Dave Jones and fellow analyst Jamie Carragher about his spell with the club.
It was clear that he holds an affection for the club, but the Argentine also appeared to hint that changes would be coming at the club if he was reappointed as manager.
“Tottenham was an amazing job, more than five years that we really enjoyed from day one,” he said.
“All the people and the staff there that were helping from day one, to us, to help us be successful. Then, the players, they were amazing too.
“That was amazing, to have this facility, to feel free to create something special in Tottenham, that was amazing.
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“Then, of course, in all change, it’s always painful, but when you arrive at a new club, you need to make some changes.”
While he could be forgiven for harbouring some anger over the manner of his exit, Pochettino instead made it clear he understood why the club sacked him.
“It was a shame. We were so upset when some people say bad things about the Spurs mentality. We were really upset. But then we understood what it means for Tottenham,” he added.
“When we arrived, there was a 22-year period behind Arsenal, that was so painful for our fans and for the whole club.
“The club was so brave, Daniel [Levy] was so brave to start to build a new stadium, which today I think is the best in England, maybe in Europe.”
Though he insisted that he still has a good relationship with Levy, Pochettino did infer that he was unhappy with the lack of transfer funds given to him during his time in charge.
“With the money he has now, I’m not going to say I was disappointed, of course, I wasn’t happy when you leave the club where you have a massive relationship with everyone,” he said.
"I understand football very well. I’m not complaining about the decision of the club, of Daniel, the only thing I can do is support, because we still have a very good relationship.
“I love Tottenham, and I know Jose, so I want the best for him. We missed winning a title, that is what we missed to put the cherry on top of the cake.”
He clearly still holds affection for the club and would be undoubtedly be welcomed back to Spurs with open arms by supporters.
