Mauricio Pochettino (54), coach of the United States national team, has drawn a line under speculation he will be Tottenham's next manager.
At a news conference ahead of a friendly against Portugal on April 1 (Korean time), Pochettino flatly said there had been no talks with Tottenham and added, we are fully focused on the World Cup. No one has approached me, the British newspaper Express reported on the 31st.
Pochettino is in charge of the United States national team, one of the host nations for the FIFA World Cup taking place in June. But because Pochettino led Tottenham from 2014 to 2019 during the club's most brilliant period in its history, he has attracted intense interest.
Tottenham sit 17th in the league (30 points), just one point above the relegation zone and 18th-place West Ham United (29 points). The situation has worsened after interim manager Igor Tudor (49) was sacked after just 44 days.
For that reason, Pochettino continued to be one of the leading candidates to become Tottenham's next manager. But with the World Cup looming, it is realistically impossible for him to take the Tottenham reins now. It appears to be settling on former Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi (47).
Pochettino said, as everyone knows, I have a contract with this national team. It is not the time to talk about the future, and he emphasized, no one has approached me.
However, he left the door open to possibilities after the World Cup. He said, But no one knows what will happen in the future. And to be honest, remaining with the United States is also open, adding, If the U.S. Soccer Federation is satisfied, why not?
On the possibility of remaining with Tottenham, Pochettino said, Yes, they can remain, and stressed, Of course it's a difficult time. But whether a new manager comes or not, that team has the ability to win, showing his affection for his former club.
According to some British reports, with seven league matches remaining, Tottenham have offered De Zerbi a long-term five-year contract and plan to give him the reins starting with the next league match, the April 12 trip to Sunderland.
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