Premier League English

Tottenham could miss out on Mauricio Pochettino to Real Madrid

Reports have alluded that Tottenham could be in a glitch to reappoint Mauricio Pochettino this summer in the likely event that Daniel Levy would be scouting for another manager after Italian maverick Antonio Conte sealed his own fate signing his own death warrant with the club after directing a stinging critique at his players and the club following the side’s 3-3 draw with Southampton last week.

Pochettino, who was relieved of his duties in November 2019 after a dismal start to the season, has been heavily linked as a potential replacement for Conte, whose departure could be triggered at any moment, with Ryan Mason waiting to assume responsibilities at the helm temporarily until the summer.

However, The Times report that Levy and his cohorts could be facing a battle to reappoint the popular Argentine, as news is rampant that Real Madrid are supposedly sniffing around as their situation with current manager Carlo Ancelotti seems to be a bit shaky and the Italian could leave the Spanish capital this summer.

Ancelloti is currently under mounting pressure after losing 2-1 at Camp Nou over the weekend, hence trailing 12 points behind their traditional rivals in La Liga.

As for the Champions League, despite overcoming Liverpool with apparent ease in the last-16, the path of the 14-time cup holders to the semi-finals is by no means certain as they drew Chelsea in the quarter-finals, with the west London side having caused Los Blancos significant issues in recent years in the competition.

In 2021, the Blues knocked them out having dominated them over both legs on their way to their second Champions League crown.

Reportedly Real Madrid have twice set their sights on Pochettino before, with the first time being in 2018 despite having been put off then by his having recently penned a new deal with the north London club.

Then, more recently in 2021 they were put off by Pochettino’s unavailability, having been at Paris Saint-Germain for six months.

Allegedly Tottenham’s preference would be to find a replacement for Conte immediately, unlike when they had to grope around in the manner that they did in the summer of 2021, eventually securing former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo, only for the deal to turn sour for all parties concerned as the latter was sacked only a matter of months later and was subsequently replaced by the Conte.

However, despite various names, including Luis Enrique and Thomas Tuchel, have been mooted as possible replacements, Pochettino clearly has the sentimental vote.