Chelsea

“I’ll never manage Arsenal” – Mauricio Pochettino

Published

11 months ago

November 3, 2023

Gerald

Mauricio Pochettino insists he’ll ‘never manage Arsenal’ ahead of his return to Tottenham as head coach of Chelsea

Mauricio Pochettino insists he will ‘never manage Arsenal’ ahead of his return to Tottenham as head coach of Chelsea on Monday.

Former Spurs boss Pochettino was linked to the Arsenal job four years ago when the Gunners parted ways with Unai Emery.

The Argentine spent five years in charge of Spurs, leading them to a Champions League final, but was sacked in 2019 before taking the Chelsea job this summer.

That upset many Tottenham fans given their rivalry with Chelsea and asked on Friday what it would mean to beat his former side, Pochettino said: ‘Look, if you remember, I always said the club I will never manage is Arsenal.

‘You know, because I considered them the worst enemy of Tottenham. It’s strange to come back because always the feeling after four years… it’s going to be, for me, a happy day.

‘But that is life and we need to move on. We are professional but at the same time we are human.

‘We were talking about the four months we are working together [at Chelsea] and creating some links and maybe we spend five or six years together, if I’m sacked why are we going to forget our relationship?

Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham return will be “really special after amazing memories together” 🤍 pic.twitter.com/E3jzmR1VtF

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 3, 2023

‘There were ups and downs [at Tottenham]. That is how we build our history.’

Asked if he was expecting a warm welcome from Spurs fans on his first visit back to the club, Pochettino added: ‘I’m not going to say anything at the moment because until Monday we cannot guess.

‘The most important is people know we cannot forget what we lived together. It won’t change my emotions, my feelings about a club where we spent an unbelievable journey.’

Pochettino was linked with a second spell in charge of Tottenham after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2022 but the 51-year-old admits a return was never on the cards.

Quizzed if he could have returned as Spurs manager, Pochettino said: ‘No and after we finished our relationship with Paris Saint Germain, we wanted to be one year away from football and then the offer from Chelsea arrived.’

Speaking more generally about going back to Tottenham as head coach of Chelsea, Pochettino added: ‘It’s special to come back after four years to a place we have amazing memories. It’s a good opportunity to come back and see people who are still working there. An exciting moment.’

Pochettino also lauded Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, says it will be ‘weird’ to see Tottenham without Harry Kane, hopes his players can keep Son Heung-min quiet and feels his old club are genuine Premier League title contenders.

‘For me, [Daniel Levy was] the most important person because he gave me and my coaching staff the possibility to be in Tottenham,’ Pochettino said. ‘Not only a professional relationship, a friendly relationship.

‘Too many memories together, it was an amazing journey, I only want to say thank you. Playing in White Hart Lane, Wembley and Milton Keynes in the same year, an amazing project, only I can say thank you.

‘It’s going to be weird Harry Kane is not going to be there. He’s a big part of the history of Tottenham and it will be weird not to see him.

‘My centre-backs need to stop [Son]. We know him and he’s one of the best players in the Premier League. I hope it’s not going to be a good night for him.

‘Yes I think [Spurs are title contenders]. They are doing a fantastic job. You feel they can be a contender. It is early in the season but they are showing the quality to be a contender.’