Tottenham Hotspur boss Jose Mourinho decided to loan Kyle Walker-Peters to Southampton in January.
Walker-Peters left Spurs on loan in January to join Southampton, after being starved of game time.
As soon as Mourinho came in he made Serge Aurier his first choice right-back at Tottenham, with Walker-Peters usually left out.
And the young, English right-back feels that Mauricio Pochettino’s departure from Spurs cost him his place in the squad.
“I think had he stayed, I’d still be at Tottenham,” Walker-Peters said of Pochettino.
“He was never really big on loans. There were always opportunities for him to send me on loan and he never did, so I think that showed his faith in me.
“Despite not playing me all the time, it showed that he wanted me around. If he hadn’t left, I don’t think I’d be on loan, so it just shows how fast football can change.
“Mourinho comes in and I get to play one game, but I don’t really get an opportunity like I thought I would, in terms of two or three games rotating with Serge Aurier, but the manager has to make decisions. That was his decision, so that’s fine.”
Despite Walker-Peters’ belief, Pochettino didn’t use him particularly regularly, even with Tottenham suffering with issues at right-back this term.
The full-back has only ever played 24 times for Tottenham’s senior squad, and considering he is now 22, his need for more regular action is obvious.
Walker-Peters looked set to get that at Southampton but, with the Premier League season halted, he has endured a frustrating time since moving to St. Mary’s.
Walker-Peters has played just once for the Saints, in a game which they lost 2-1 to Burnley.
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