Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino “not worried” about getting sacked after Brighton defeat
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino insists he is not worried about being sacked by the north London club.
The Argentinian has come under intense scrutiny following the club’s less than stellar start to the 2019/20 season.
Pochettino at Spurs: Five key things to know…
- Mauricio Pochettino joined Spurs from Southampton in 2014.
- He guided them to a 5th place finish before four consecutive seasons in the Premier League’s top four.
- Spurs have reached two major finals under him, but they would come up short on both occasions.
- Chelsea defeated them in the 2015 League Cup final (2-0), and Liverpool in the 2019 Champions League final (2-0).
- After a poor start to 2019/20 many are questioning Pochettino’s future, but he insists he does not fear the sack.
Spurs, who reached last season’s European Cup final (doing so having not made a single transfer across their 2018/19 campaign), have won just three of their opening 11 matches in all competitions
This period has seen them being dumped out of the Carabao Cup to League Two side Colchester United before suffering a humiliating 7-2 home loss in the Champions League at Bayern Munich’s hands. This was then followed up with a defeat 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
Amid the poor results there’s growing speculation of a fractured dressing room and Pochettino, who recently penned a new five-year deal, being on the brink of leaving. But despite the latest low, Pochettino insists he does not fear the sack.
“No I am not worried [about being sacked], what worries me is life, not football,” he said.
“Football is a game that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. The problem for us – it was win, win, win and it was praise for everyone.
“Now in the last two games it was a tough situation to accept. But I don’t want to be a philosopher or talk in a way that is not good.
“Football is [about being] strong and brave and taking decisions; and to show your face when things are not good.
“That is what we are going to do, face the negative things and try to work hard to change this dynamic. In my position I need to accept all the criticism. The same when you praise me or the team.
“I’m going to accept it in the same way and it’s not going to change my vision, from you or the pundit because you’re criticising me or describing a situation differently to what you expect.”
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Mauricio Pochettino wants to spend another half decade at Tottenham
Pochettino is no stranger of being linked elsewhere with Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid all reportedly keen on acquiring his services in the last 12 months.
But, should Spurs stick with their man, Pochettino plans to still be with the club in years to come.
“In five and a half years, every single press conference, we are talking about my future,” he told reporters prior to the defeat to Brighton.
“I hope because we are still talking, it means that I am going to spend five years more here, at least.
“I accept the opinions. It is normal that the game has created a lot of opinions and rumours, everyone needs to talk.
“But in the end, we only lost a game. We are going to find a way to be successful again, no doubt. We need to stay together.”
