Football

Is Pochettino ready to replace the ‘departing’ Southgate?

Is Pochettino ready to replace the ‘departing’ Southgate?

Mauricio Pochettino is out of work since he was fired by PSG last season and since then he has been involved in plenty of speculation about his future. The former Tottenham manager is held in high regard by many even though plenty of pundits would suggest that interest is unwarranted since the Argentine coach never won anything significant.

However, no one can deny that during his Tottenham days, he brought that club back to relevance by taking them to the Champions League final and making sure they are constantly placed inside the top four of the Premier League. Even before that time, he proved to be a good coach when leading Southampton and earlier Espanyol, which was his stepping stone to the bigger stage.

His PSG episode lasted only for a year, before he becameg another victim of the ambition that the Parisians have and without winning a Champions League trophy he was doomed.

But, Pochettino is very much still in the picture, waiting for his next opportunity and he would have no problem taking over a national team if offered the opportunity. He won’t accept any jobs before the World Cup is over as there are rumors that Gareth Southgate might quit the England team if he fails to win the World Cup, or rather drops out too early.

Just as Pochettino transformed Tottenham in 2014 when he took over the team, the same can be said of Southgate and the way he changed England’s fortunes in the biggest tournaments. In 2018 England played in a World Cup semi-final and last year they lost in the EUROs final which was their first final game of a big tournament since 1966, when they became the World champions.

Southgate extended his contract with the English FA after last year’s EUROs until 2024, however, that doesn’t mean he will fulfill that obligation. Results are the only thing that matters and Southgate is expected to deliver in Qatar. If that doesn’t happen, Pochettino will be waiting.

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The Argentine raves about England players

“I feel comfortable in England. The mentality here is amazing, the players are brave, they love to play offensive football, they enjoy provoking their opponents and try to dominate the game,” Pochettino explained.

“The English players always try to deliver the results, doing their job, I like how they approach the game. England has very good players.”

Pochettino has World Cup experience as a player and was involved with the Argentina national team in the 2002 World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea.

“It’s a special tournament. I was lucky to be involved because when you play for your country, you don’t think about money, or anything material, just doing your job, trying to deliver your very best performance, and making your countryman happy. You know that people are behind you.”

“World Cup is not the same as any other competition, it feels so different from what we experience outside of it, it’s not a normal tournament, it’s something more important.”

Pochettino’s last game for Argentina was also in 2002 and he spent three years in the national team fold overall, accumulating 20 caps scoring a couple of goals as a defender. His playing career lasted for 17 years, it ended at La Liga side Espanyol which was later his first coaching job.

England will play against the United States, Iran, and Wales in their World Cup group, with their first game arriving on Monday against Iran.


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