CHRIS SUTTON: Mauricio Pochettino leaves Tottenham with his chest puffed out… and a knife in his back
- Tottenham have axed Mauricio Pochettino after three league wins this season
- The Argentine had been under intense pressure with the team 14th in the league
- Sportsmail reported on Monday that it was a matter of time before he departed
- ‘Tottenham have sacked the manager everybody else will want,’ adds Sutton
Ridiculous. Tottenham have sacked the manager everybody else will want. They have sacked the man who led them in a Champions League final 171 days ago.
They have sacked the coach who built an empire on a shoestring budget and ensured they could compete with the world’s elite.
Mauricio Pochettino will encounter no problems in finding another job, probably at a club even bigger than Tottenham.
There had been speculation that the Argentine had been distant and looking for a way out
Manchester United and Real Madrid have long been linked with the Argentine for a reason.
POCHETTINO’S EXIT: HOW SPORTSMAIL BROKE THE STORY
On Monday night, Sportsmail duo Sami Mokbel and Adrian Kajumba exclusively revealed that the end was near for Mauricio Pochettino – CLICK HERE to read the article in full.
Spurs visit West Ham on Saturday but there was already a backdrop of uncertainty over the Argentine’s future, with sources claiming private discussions over an exit strategy had taken place. These were confirmed on Tuesday evening when he was sacked.
Tottenham sit 14th in the Premier League – 20 points adrift of leaders Liverpool – although they remain on course to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The headline for Sportsmail’s exclusive story on Pochettino’s future on Monday.
Pochettino performed wonders in his five years there, including finishing fourth last season, and his sacking sums up everything that is wrong with modern football.
A few blips and boom, the panic button is pushed and you’re out.
Where’s the loyalty? Chairman Daniel Levy said in his statement that he was ‘reluctant’ to do it.
Well, you went ahead and did it, and I see this as a huge backward step. People will argue ‘but he didn’t win anything’.
True, but he made Tottenham competitive against the big spenders, which was a feat in itself.
You wonder what tipped Levy over the edge to make him do this now, at the end of an international break.
There are other questions, too. What does Harry Kane and the squad think of this? Who comes in next? Will the new manager want millions to spend? I feel for Pochettino.
He can be proud of his time at Tottenham and leave with his chest puffed out – but with a knife in his back.