Harry Kane has told Joe’s official YouTube channel that Ryan Mason has ‘take stuff’ from Mauricio Pochettino into his own Tottenham training sessions.
It was under Pochettino’s stewardship that Mason thrived at Tottenham before the 29-year-old’s professional career was cruelly cut short because of a head injury when at Hull City.
But with the Jose Mourinho experiment failing following Pochettino’s exit, it’s Mason who has now been tasked with bringing some life back into Tottenham.
And no-one could blame him for dipping into the Pochettino training manual to try and get this seemingly under-performing Spurs side back on their feet.
Kane shared what it’s been like working under the guidance of his former teammate, who is ‘one of his best mates’ after they came through the Tottenham academy together.
“Ryan’s been great,” said Kane. “He has been one of my best mates even away from football. We have always kept in touch. We have always had a great relationship, so I am delighted for him to have this opportunity.
“I think he has handled in really well. It’s not easy for a 29-year-old to come in and act like the boss, be the boss and have your own ideas and put your own identity into things. But he has done that great.
“He has taken stuff from Mauricio. He played under Mauricio for a long time. You can see some stuff in training, which are a little bit similar. But he has his own ideas and his own way of doing things.
“We just want to win for him and give him and give him the best opportunity, whether it’s now or in five years, to have a great coaching career.”
Given the length of rope Mason was given to pull by Daniel Levy when Mourinho was sacked, the former midfielder has done the best he could, even though they were beaten in the League Cup final and they won’t be finishing in the top four.
Spurs have only lost one Premier League match under his stewardship and there does seem to be more forward-thinking intent from the players.
But clearly Tottenham’s failings this season lay at other people’s doors and those days under Pochettino, which included a trip to the Champions League final, now seem far away in the distance.
Pochettino may well have a fight on his hands to win the Ligue 1 title across the channel in France, but the memories he left in North London won’t be forgotten by the supporters.
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