Mauricio Pochettino Dismisses Speculation About a Tottenham Return Following Defeat in the USA

The head coach of the USA, Mauricio Pochettino, has dismissed speculation linking him to the vacant managerial position at Tottenham Hotspur, his former club, following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou on Friday.

Pochettino, an Argentine, managed Spurs for five years from 2014, leading the team to the Champions League final, though he never secured a trophy during his tenure in North London.

Despite having signed a two-year contract in September to guide the USA as they co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, Pochettino’s name has frequently surfaced in bookmakers’ odds and various reports in the UK regarding the Spurs position.

When asked about these links during his post-match press conference after the USA’s 2-1 home friendly defeat to Turkey, Pochettino downplayed the speculation.

“Ever since I left in 2019, my name has shown up on the list every time the manager’s role at Tottenham Hotspur has been vacant,” Pochettino stated.

“If you’ve noticed the rumours, I believe there are around 100 coaches on that list. So, there’s really no need for concern,” he added.

Pochettino has previously expressed his fondness for Spurs and has never completely ruled out the possibility of returning to the club in the future.

However, he hinted that now might not be the ideal moment for a second stint with his former side.

“If something were to happen, you would certainly see it, but we can’t discuss these matters because, at this stage, it’s not realistic. Just look at where I am now, and where we are,” he remarked in the stadium press room in Hartford, Connecticut.

“The answer is quite clear, wouldn’t you agree? But we’re talking about this because it’s my club, just like Newells or Espanyol,” he continued.

Postecoglou was relieved of his duties merely 16 days after guiding Tottenham to their first trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League.

Under Postecoglou, Spurs celebrated a 1-0 triumph over Manchester United in Bilbao, marking their first European trophy in 41 years and securing a spot in the upcoming Champions League.

The former Celtic manager faced the axe following Tottenham’s poorest domestic campaign since their relegation from the top flight in the 1976-77 season.

The USA have now lost three consecutive matches, having previously been defeated by Panama and Canada in March’s CONCACAF Nations League, but Pochettino remained positive about his team’s performance amidst concerns over their attitude in recent outings.

“This is the mindset I want us to maintain as we work towards the World Cup… it’s the only way we can improve,” he stated.

“If I decide in September to implement a different roster, my aim is to have the same level of commitment and attitude, without any complaints about this or that,” he concluded.