Mauricio Pochettino ‘really sad’ watching Tottenham’s Premier League relegation battle

Mauricio Pochettino has expressed profound sadness over his former club Tottenham Hotspur ’s current struggle against Premier League relegation . The Argentine, who famously led Spurs to a second-placed league finish in 2016-17 and a Champions League final appearance in 2019, has watched his old side drop into the bottom three in the Premier League table with just four matches remaining this season. Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Pochettino conveyed his deep emotional connection to the club.

"It’s really sad, I really love Tottenham, it’s going to be a part of my life, an important part of my life as a coach, my personal life too," he stated. "It’s really sad because I know how the people are suffering there, inside the club and also the fans. It’s difficult to accept.

" Pochettino led Tottenham to the Champions League final in 2019 (PA Wire) His successful five-year tenure in north London coincided with significant infrastructure projects, including the construction of the club’s state-of-the-art stadium and training ground. This period saw Spurs play 'home' fixtures at Wembley, with transfer funds often restricted due to the substantial investment elsewhere. Pochettino revealed he had targeted players like Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum, both of whom ultimately joined Liverpool and were instrumental in the side that defeated Spurs in the Champions League final.

Reflecting on the challenges, Pochettino added: "It’s a shame. We were winning every season because with all the circumstances that we were fighting, we spent 18 months with not one signing. That was a record in the Premier League.