Simon Jordan explains why Mauricio Pochettino will not return to Tottenham

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Former Premier League owner Simon Jordan cannot see Mauricio Pochettino returning to Tottenham Hotspur as Daniel Levy lines up a potential Antonio Conte replacement, speaking to talkSPORT (14 March, 11.30am). 

Even if Conte was not out of contract this summer, the Italian’s future would surely be in serious doubt. In the space of just one week, Spurs dropped out of two different competitions; FA Cup and Champions League exits at the hand of Sheffield United an a rather average AC Milan meaning one of the modern era’s most decorated coaches – like Jose Mourinho before him – will be departing without a single piece of silverware to show for his efforts in North London. 

According to reports, the likes of Oliver Glasner, Thomas Frank, Roberto de Zerbi, Steve Cooper and Ruben Amorim are all under contention to take Conte’s place on the Tottenham dugout. 

Spurs legend Pochettino remains the first name on the lips of many, however. Though Jordan would be ‘surprised’ if the out-of-work Argentine is willing to put those differences with Daniel Levy to one side; a breakdown in relations leading to his somewhat acrimonious departure in 2019. 

Will Mauricio Pochettino return to Tottenham and replace Antonio Conte?

“Will it be Pochettino? I don’t think so,” muses the former Crystal Palace chairman. 

“I think that ship has sailed. There is a good reason why Pochettino went, and I don’t think that reason has changed. I would be surprised (if Poch returned) unless they run out of options. Unless they are looking at the bottom of the barrel and going; ‘well, we have got nothing else here’.”

Pochettino bid farewell to Paris Saint-Germain in June following a largely underwhelming spell at the Ligue 1 champions. They say you should ‘never go back’. Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara is not buying into that argument, however, insisting that a man who guided Spurs to the Champions League final a couple of seasons back is clearly the right man for the job. 

“I think (Brenford’s) Thomas Frank is an absolutely fantastic manager,” O’Hara tells talkSPORT. “But I think what Tottenham need, right now, is a lift for the fans. And I think Pochettino is that.”