TOTTENHAM will never have a better chance of ending a title drought stretching back to 1961 than this season.
Just two points behind Premier League leaders Leicester, Spurs have largely gone under the radar for most of the campaign but their recent 2-1 victory at fellow contenders Manchester City left no doubt they have the squad and form to go all the way.
And a big part of their success this season has been down to manager Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentine has stiffened the Tottenham backline – no longer are Spurs seen as a ‘soft touch’ – to the point where they currently have the best defensive record in the division. He has also helped foster a great team spirit but, perhaps most importantly, has instilled a real sense of belief among the players, a belief that they can go on and win the title.
Ironically Pochettino’s soaring reputation has left Tottenham vulnerable as inevitably big clubs become interested in acquiring his services.
But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is confident Tottenham can ward off any potential suitors for the 43-year-old, with Manchester United and Chelsea both believed to be sniffing around.
As BBC reports: “Levy does not feel any new contract is a necessity in holding onto the 43-year-old, such is his confidence that Pochettino will stay.
“Mauricio has three-and-a-half years left on his contract,” he said, while former Tottenham defender Gary Mabbutt said: “I am convinced he would turn down any advances from Manchester United or Chelsea.
“I’m sure he sees this squad of players and what is happening at Tottenham on and off the field and realises these are very exciting times for the club.”
We tend to agree. Historically, United in particular are a ‘bigger’ club but during his relatively short time in charge at White Hart Lane Pochettino has built an exciting and attacking squad full of young English talent – and they’re still improving. Would he really want to give that up? At this stage it appears unlikely United or Chelsea will be competing in the Champions League next season whereas Spurs look certain to do so.
However, as rumours and speculation increase, Tottenham fans will no doubt be feeling a little edgy.
Would winning the Premier League be enough to ensure Pochettino remains or do you think his head could be turned by one of the so-called ‘bigger’ clubs?
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SP
Feb 18, 2016 at 4:10 pm
United are only historically ‘a bigger club’ from when Ferguson began winning them trophies – at that time the two clubs had the same number of major honours. United had a certain degree of sympathy from the public due to the Munich Disaster – which is fair enough. But that didn’t give them any inherent dominance or advantage on the field. Spurs had higher revenues and more recent success. United’s dominance over the last couple of decades has come from an excellent academy producing a golden generation (the Class of 92), at exact the optimum time to maximise BPL/CL/TV money, managed by an exceptional manager, in an audacious stadium development, and with the club’s astute financial management ensuring dominance in that area.
I grew up, as a Spurs supporter a good time before this and to me Manchester United were just one of several rivals. I’m a bit fed up with the way the media and certain sections of supporters act as though United had always been this mystical behemoth who other clubs should defer to and give up players/managers on demand. Afaiac United were not ‘historically bigger’ at all – they just benefited from a combination of factors and at a time when my club nearly destroyed itsef. Now THFC is the club with the youth nset-up and players, and undertaking the developments in an effort to restore the parity that was once there.