Tuesday’s 7-2 home thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich was the latest blow in what’s been, from a certain perspective, a tough start to the 2019-2020 Premier League season for Tottenham.
However, despite the rough result in the UEFA Champions League, Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said he sees no reason to jump ship anytime soon.
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“In five-and-a-half years, every single press conference we have talked about my future,” Pochettino said, via Sky Sports. “I hope [because] we are still talking, it means that I am going to spend five more years here, at least.”
Of course, the likelihood that Pochettino stays for another five years is very slim. He’s been rumored to take the Real Madrid job, and should that open up next summer, there’s no reason he couldn’t resign from Spurs and move to Madrid. However, it is a boost to Spurs fans that the Argentine manager isn’t going out like this, with a very disappointing defeat early in the season.
Pochettino guided the club past expectations last season in thrilling fashion, securing another top-four performance and helping execute a three-goal comeback over Ajax to make the UEFA Champions League final. Since then, there’s been upheaval within the squad, players like Danny Rose who were told they could leave, stayed. Meanwhile, a player who reportedly wanted to leave, Christen Eriksen, stayed as well. All that, plus Tottenham’s 11-point haul through seven Premier League matches has them outside the Champions League places, for now, and it’s been an up-and-down season for sure.
Along with his players, Pochettino has been rumored to be leaving Tottenham at any point, after five years of battling with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy over new signings to stay competitive with Liverpool. Yet, Tottenham are still in the hunt for a top-four place, and nothing’s changed in terms of the Champions League picture. Spurs could still finish second and advance, ensuring plenty of money coming in for the club in revenue.
Pochettino has had a tough season for sure, but he appears to be staying for at least a while longer before it’s his time to move on.