Phil Thompson fears Mauricio Pochettino could leave Spurs next summer

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Phil Thompson has suggested that Mauricio Pochettino could consider his Tottenham Hotspur future this season.

Phil Thompson has suggested on Soccer Saturday (broadcast on Sky Sports; 17/8 from 12:00) that he could see Mauricio Pochettino leaving Spurs next summer should the club fade away and struggle to challenge for a trophy this season.

Tottenham continue to make significant progress under Pochettino. They have regularly challenged for the Premier League title under his guidance, and they reached the Champions League final last season.

But his critics are only too happy to point out that Spurs are yet to lift any silverware during his time in charge. And Thompson admitted that he could see Pochettino deciding to walk away if he feels that he has taken the club are far as he can.

“It’s a big decision for him, what does he want? ‘Because of what I’ve got and because of the restrictions I have to work with, I’m never going to break that unless we can recruit, unless we can pay the money to get the top, top quality players to come in’,” he told Sky Sports when asked what Pochettino may do if Spurs do not win a trophy.

“He’s indicated for the last 12 months about his position there and about their recruitment policy. So if they drift away this year, I think he might have a look at his time and [say] ‘that’s it, I’m done’.”

While it would be a big disappointment if Pochettino’s tenure ended without a trophy, it would be incredibly lazy to suggest that his time in charge has been anything other than a major success even if they do not win silverware.

Spurs have become a team that are always included when fans discuss the Premier League title contenders. And they have proved that they are one of the best sides in Europe at this current moment.

Pochettino’s tenure has seen Tottenham reemerge as a heavyweight, both in Europe and domestically. Trophies would be the icing on the cake, but it would still be unfair to use the amount of silverware won as the only barometer with which to judge whether Pochettino’s time in charge has been a success or not.