Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has reignited speculation about a sensational return to north London, insisting the club “needs” to fight for the Premier League and Champions League.
His comments come at a time of immense pressure for current head coach Thomas Frank, whose tenure is reportedly reaching a “breaking point” following a string of poor results.
Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham need to compete at the highest level
Pochettino, who is currently the manager of the United States national team, spoke candidly about his former club’s current trajectory on the High Performance podcast.
Spurs won the Europa League last season under manager Ange Postecoglou, ending a 17-year title drought, but Pochettino insists such accolades are not enough for a prestigious club like Tottenham.
“It’s true that Tottenham are a club that has to think about winning the Premier League and the Champions League.
“Their facilities are Champions League (level), which wasn’t the case before. But now it’s important to win the Premier League and the Champions League.”
“The fans appreciated us because we challenged for the Premier League and the Champions League.
“It’s good to win the Europa League, which the team won[last season]. It’s good to celebrate the trophy, but it’s not enough.
“For a club like Tottenham, it’s not enough to compete in the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, the Europa League or the Conference.
“It is a club that should be or should be in the Champions League, fighting for the Champions League and trying to believe they can win the Champions League, fighting for the Premier League and believing they can win the Premier League.”
Thomas Frank Tottenham’s future remains uncertain
For Thomas Frank, the timing of these comments could not have been worse.
Tottenham are currently enjoying a nightmare run in the Premier League, sitting in 15th place, six points off the relegation zone.
Spurs lost 2-0 to Manchester United, making it seven league games without a win.
Frank admitted his side are “desperate” for a win ahead of Tuesday’s game against Newcastle United.
Reports suggest he could be sacked after just one game as the club’s domestic season disintegrates and the leadership is running out of patience. Pochettino is considered the likely candidate to succeed him.
The Dane led Spurs to the round of 16 of the Champions League, and his status has only grown stronger with a league record of just seven wins from 25 games.
Pochettino has unfinished business at Tottenham
The ‘world-class’ Argentine remains a beloved figure at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, largely thanks to a five-year transformation between 2014 and 2019.
Under his guidance, Spurs became perennial title contenders, finishing runners-up in the Premier League in 2016-17 with the highest points total in history.
His tenure culminated in a historic run to the 2019 Champions League final, where they lost to Liverpool.
He left the club five months later, but his unfinished business has become a recurring theme.
His USMNT contract is set to expire after the 2026 World Cup, and many fans are already dreaming of a reunion to take the club back to the heights it once achieved.
