{"id":1088059,"date":"2019-05-08T16:53:57","date_gmt":"2019-05-08T15:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1088059"},"modified":"2019-05-08T16:53:57","modified_gmt":"2019-05-08T15:53:57","slug":"mauricio-pochettino-turned-down-dream-job-for-spurs","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/mauricio-pochettino-turned-down-dream-job-for-spurs\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauricio Pochettino: I turned down my dream job for Spurs in the summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mauricio Pochettino has said he turned down a “dream” move to Real Madrid last summer to stay with Tottenham Hotspur.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Argentinian was heavily linked with the vacant Madrid post when Zinedine Zidane unexpectedly resigned last May.<\/p>\n

Why did Pochettino stay at Spurs? Five key things to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Last season, Pochettino led Tottenham to a third successive top-three finish in the Premier League.<\/li>\n
  2. As a result he was rewarded with a new five-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid managers in the country.<\/li>\n
  3. A week after signing his new deal, Zidane unexpectedly left Madrid and Pochettino was reportedly targeted as his replacement.<\/li>\n
  4. Pochettino says a combination of loyalty to Spurs and Daniel Levy’s unwillingness to talk to Madrid ensured he stayed in London.<\/li>\n
  5. The former Southampton boss looks to have led Tottenham to another top-four finish and the Champions League semi-finals this term.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7246453-like-a-broken-mirror-man-utd-s-top-knot-curse-lingers-on<\/p>\n

    At the time of Madrid’s courtship, Pochettino was coy about his Spurs future. Speculation ended when the La Liga giants hired Julen Lopetegui instead.<\/p>\n

    Pochettino has now revealed he did turn down a move to the Spanish capital but claims managing Madrid is the dream of every coach.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe situation was difficult,” Pochettino said, as reported by the\u00a0Evening Standard<\/a>. “The dream of every coach was at stake: to lead the biggest team that exists.<\/p>\n

    “And you must say no. That is momentous. It creates a conflict. Because you know that if a coach wants to leave, he leaves. But I had just signed a renewal with Tottenham.<\/p>\n

    “And I felt that I could not do anything. Daniel Levy did not accept the offers to free me and if they ask me to break the contract I cannot accept it because I cannot behave like that.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIf my chairman thinks I\u2019m going to continue, I\u2019m not going to run off. Those are not my values. Why is it going to be good for a club to sign a coach who violates his commitments?\u201d<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nLNxaF3GtmU<\/p>\n

    Subscribe to Squawka\u2019s Youtube channel here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Pochettino: I could go home if Spurs win the Champions League<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    In his press conference ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Ajax, Pochettino appeared to suggest he could leave Tottenham this summer \u2013 although it’s unclear whether he was joking.<\/p>\n

    The 47-year-old said he may decide to “go home” if he wins the Champions League with Spurs this season.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt (winning the Champions League) should be fantastic, no? Close the five-year chapter and go home,\u201d Pochettino said<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s not a joke. Why? To win the Champions League in this circumstance, in this season \u2013 maybe I need to think a little bit to do something different in the future. Because to repeat this miracle, you know\u2026 But for sure, I go home. Whatever happens tomorrow (against Ajax), I go home.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Spurs are set to finish in the top four of the Premier League unless they lose to Everton and Arsenal beat Burnley combined with an eight-goal swing this weekend.<\/p>\n