Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has distanced himself from Real Madrid job but would the egos there even suit him anyway?
Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, and Zinedine Zidane, manager of Real Madrid, shake hands following the UEFA Champions League group H match.
Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear that he is committed to Tottenham Hotspur amid rumours linking him with the Real Madrid job.
The Spurs manager made himself an even more attractive prospect to the hierarchy at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu after masterminding a 3-1 victory over Los Blancos in the Champions League.
Dele Alli celebrates scoring his side’s first goal with Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League group H match against Real Madrid.
Pressure is mounting on Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane after a run of disappointing results, but Pochettino is not interested in leaving Spurs to return to Spain currently.
“For me the most important club in the world is Tottenham,” the Argentine was quoted by the Mirror.
“And for me it is the best club in the world. I need to feel like this. That emotion is real.I cannot be fake.
“I cannot guess what happens in Real Madrid or Barcelona – or at other clubs.”
Harry Kane in discussion with Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, during the UEFA Champions League group H match against Real Madrid.
However, even if Pochettino were tempted to the Spanish capital, would the ‘galacticos’ philosophy and dressing room full of big egos suit a coach who has built his reputation on overachieving with players who effectively idolise him?
The 45 year old has been praised for his development of youngsters at Espanyol, Southampton and now Tottenham, with Harry Kane telling Sky Sports of his boss following teammate Harry Winks’ England call-up: “(These players earning their England debuts) show Mauricio’s one of the best managers in the world, if not the best.
“He brings players through, gives them chances on the big stage and they deliver for him. We can’t thank him enough for that.”
However, when it comes to older, established stars – something the squad at Real is brimming with in the shape of captain Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and star man Cristiano Ronaldo – Pochettino would not want to be overruled.
In the past there has been criticism of Los Merengues that the players hold too much power and are more influential than the manager and for the South American, that would simply not suit.
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