Mauricio Pochettino spent five years at Spurs, overseeing a runners-up finish in the league, as well as taking the north London club to their first Champions League final
Mauricio Pochettino believes Tottenham need to be serious challengers for both the Premier League and Champions League titles and claimed winning the Europa League is “not enough”.
Pochettino spent five years at Spurs, overseeing a runners-up finish in the league, as well as taking the north London club to their first Champions League final – where they suffered defeat to Liverpool in 2019.
The 53-year-old, who will take charge of the United States at this summer’s World Cup, was sacked later that year.
However, Spurs have largely fallen away since his departure, and Thomas Frank is already under pressure following a troubled start to his reign. Tottenham supporters have even sung Pochettino’s name at recent matches.
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And Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Pochettino, whose contract with the US national team runs until the World Cup, said: “It is true that Tottenham is a club that needs to think about winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
“Their facilities are Champions League (level), and in the past we didn’t have that. But now it is about winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
“The fans appreciated (us) because we challenged for the Premier League and the Champions League. To win a Europa League that the team won (last season) is good, because when you celebrate a trophy that is good, but it is not enough.
“It is not enough for a club like Tottenham to challenge for the Carabao Cup or the FA Cup or the Europa League or the Conference (League).
“It is a club that should be, or needs to be in the Champions League, and fighting for the Champions League, and trying to believe you can win the Champions League, and fighting for the Premier League, and believing you can win the Premier League.”
Thomas Frank, meanwhile, has no problem with Tottenham fans singing about former boss Pochettino. Spurs go into Tuesday’s match at home to Newcastle on a run of two wins in 16 Premier League matches and only six points above the relegation zone.
It has sparked fears for survival among the Tottenham fanbase, who in recent weeks have chanted about ex-boss Pochettino.
Pochettino masterminded tilts at the Premier League and Champions League during a largely successful five-year spell between 2014 and 2019, and referenced his “special” connection with the club on the High Performance Podcast on Sunday.
Asked if it was unhelpful to have Pochettino talking about his old team, and supporters singing his name, Frank was diplomatic.
“I met Mauricio a few times. Great guy, a great coach. I think he’s a legend (here),” Frank said.
“I don’t think he won a trophy, but he was part of transforming the club, from where it was at that stage to where it ended being in terms of being close to winning the Premier League title and getting into the Champions League final.
“If you are close, then you are very close to winning it. Sometimes it’s football, it’s margins. Pochettino did a top job here and is a true legend, so if the fans sing his name, it’s well deserved.”
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