As Mauricio Pochettino approaches his first yr accountable for the United States males’s nationwide group, the Argentine coach mirrored on moments that might have modified his profession solely. In a current interview with El Chiringuito TV, Pochettino admitted that in 2018 he was near becoming a member of Actual Madrid—however a key choice by Tottenham’s chairman saved the deal from taking place.
Pochettino, then head coach of Tottenham Hotspur, was having fun with a powerful run within the Premier League. On the finish of the 2017–18 season, Zinedine Zidane stepped down as Actual Madrid supervisor, and Pochettino was among the many candidates to switch him.
In response to the Argentine, he gave his phrase to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy that he would stick with Spurs till the membership’s new stadium was accomplished. Nevertheless, when Madrid got here calling, he informed Levy he would settle for if he obtained the inexperienced mild.
“Zidane left and, logically, there was the opportunity of signing with Actual Madrid. I informed Levy that I’d go if he gave his approval. I don’t know what occurred after. Certainly, he didn’t give the inexperienced mild,” Pochettino revealed.
The USMNT prepares to face Japan and South Korea in two pleasant matches.
As an alternative, Madrid employed Julen Lopetegui, who was dismissed only a few months later. Pochettino went on to guide Tottenham for the 2018–19 marketing campaign, his final earlier than transient stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Now managing the U.S., he admitted that his profession might need taken a totally totally different path had the Madrid transfer materialized.
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No future at Barcelona
Throughout the identical interview, Pochettino additionally addressed hypothesis about one in all Madrid’s fiercest rivals: FC Barcelona. The coach, who performed and managed at Espanyol, was agency in his rejection of ever teaching Barça.
“My identification with Espanyol is whole. Individuals at all times say, ‘We’ll see if at some point Barcelona presents you the job.’ However I can let you know now—I’d by no means coach Barcelona,” he mentioned.
Pochettino even went additional, criticizing what he sees as an ideological stance tied to Barcelona’s motto: “Greater than a membership.” “Each group has its tradition. Barcelona is a superb membership, however I don’t share the concepts they wish to promote. I believe Espanyol is a way more impartial and rather more Catalan membership than Barcelona,” he concluded.
Pochettino’s feedback shine a light-weight on two of Spain’s largest golf equipment from a coach who has at all times been linked with LaLiga however by no means taken the leap. Whereas he has not dominated out a future on the Santiago Bernabéu, his phrases make it clear that Barcelona won’t ever be an possibility. For now, his focus stays on constructing a aggressive U.S. group forward of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on dwelling soil.
