Aston Villa are interested in Mauricio Pochettino replacing Steven Gerrard if they sack their manager. So, what is the Argentine’s record against the Villans with Harry Kane essential?
The Birmingham natives are considering a change in coach just under a year into Gerrard’s tenure. He took over the Villa Park outfit from Dean Smith in November 2021 following the club losing five-straight Premier League games. The results left Aston Villa 16th in the table.
- WORLD CUP: WHEN IS THE OPENING GAME? ALL OF THE KEY DATES FOR QATAR 2022
- WORLD CUP: LUKA MODRIC AND LIONEL MESSI AMONG ALL 10 GOLDEN BALL WINNERS
Aston Villa currently rank 16th in the top-flight with nine points after 10 fixtures. Smith left the club after three years in charge having overseen 10 points over their first 11 games last season. The Villans won three of their first 11 games last term but have only won once this.
Aston Villa are interested in Mauricio Pochettino replacing Steven Gerrard
Now, The Telegraph reports Aston Villa would be interested in appointing Pochettino if the club sacks Gerrard. The Birmingham natives are lining the Argentine up to replace Gerrard as the 42-year-old is entering a make-or-break week to stay in charge for the foreseeable.
Aston Villa visit Fulham on Thursday before hosting Brentford on Sunday with anything but wins possibly the final straw. The Villans could still sack Gerrard if they only beat one of the two teams. The axe could also still fall on his tenure in the near future even with six points.
Co-owner Nassef Sawiris will lead Aston Villa’s search for a new manager if the Villans sack Gerrard. Wes Edens, chief executive Christian Purslow and sporting director Johan Lange will also have major says in their next appointment. Pochettino is their current first choice.
The Aston Villa hierarchy are prepared to go to extreme lengths to convince Pochettino to return to management in Birmingham. He has been out of work since Paris Saint-Germain sacked the 50-year-old this July. He spent 18 months in charge of the Ligue 1 powerhouse.
Sawiris and co are also willing to wait for Pochettino if the former Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton boss shows an interest in replacing Gerrard at Aston Villa but is not ready to return to management yet. Other big-name head coaches would be explored if he said no.
The timing of Aston Villa possibly sacking Gerrard would depend on having a replacement ready to take over the helm. But their biggest challenge to appointing Pochettino could be his status as a Champions League boss. He has coached in the competition since 2016/17.
So, with Aston Villa interested in appointing Pochettino as Gerrard’s replacement, what is the 20-cap former Argentina and PSG centre-back’s record against the Birmingham outfit?
What is Mauricio Pochettino’s record as a manager against Aston Villa?
Pochettino has faced Aston Villa on eight occasions so far in his managerial career. He first came up against the Birmingham natives in December 2013 after replacing Nigel Adkins at Southampton that January. The Murphy, Argentina native also claimed five wins and a draw.
He only oversaw his first win over the Villans in November 2014 after joining Tottenham over the summer. Pochettino would win 83% of his meetings with Aston Villa whilst in charge of Spurs. The Villans beat his Saints squad 3-2 in 2013 before playing a 0-0 draw in April 2014.
Tottenham talisman Kane was instrumental to Pochettino winning five of his six meetings with Aston Villa whilst in charge in north London. All but one of those wins occurred in the Premier League. Spurs also knocked the Villans out during the FA Cup third-round in 2017.
Kane fired six goals against the claret-and-blue club, including two braces. No other Spurs player scored more than once – with Nacer Chadli, Moussa Dembele, Dele Alli, Ben Davies, Son Heung-Min and Tanguy Ndombele each finding the back of Villa’s net on one occasion.
Harry Kane was instrumental to Mauricio Pochettino’s results with Tottenham
Kane sealed Pochettino his first win against Aston Villa with Tottenham in November 2014 after scoring in the 90th minute. Andreas Weimann had broken the deadlock for the hosts from Charles N’Zogbia’s pass after a quarter of an hour. But the Villans would not hold on.
Erik Lamela picked out Chadli with just six minutes remaining of the Premier League match for Spurs’ equaliser. Kane then proved to be Pochettino’s hero when he lashed a free-kick past Brad Guzan. The result put Tottenham eighth in the table and left Aston Villa in 16th.
Kane would again determine the result at Villa Park in March 2016 when he scored both of Tottenham’s goals in a 2-0 win. The forward scored in the 45th and 48th minutes to hit the Villans on either side of half-time. Remi Garde’s Villans finished the game 20th in the table.
Late goals were again Kane’s in August 2019 during Pochettino’s most recent game against Aston Villa. John McGinn handed the Villans a ninth-minute lead in north London following their promotion back into the Premier League. But the Birmingham club could not hold on.
Aston Villa were on course for an opening day win against Tottenham before Ndombele hit home on 73 minutes. Then up-stepped Kane with the England captain grabbing goals on 86 and 90 minutes to secure a result far more convincing than Spurs’ performance warranted.
Pochettino has only edged Aston Villa without Kane scoring once. Davies and Son dealt the damage in January 2017 with goals on 71 and 80 minutes against Steve Bruce’s Villans. The Argentine was without Kane for the FA Cup third-round tie having opted to give him a rest.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
