Ange Postecoglou ‘not disrespected' by Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham return hopes
Ange Postecoglou says he 'did not feel disrespected' by Mauricio Pochettino's comments about hoping to return to manage Tottenham Hotspur in the future.
Pochettino spent five years at Spurs and guided them to the 2019 Champions League final which they lost to Liverpool. The Argentine spent the 2023-24 campaign in charge of their rivals Chelsea but is now the head coach of the United States men's national team.
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Last month, Pochettino told reporters he would like to return to Spurs to fulfil his dream of winning a trophy with them.
'In the bottom of my heart I still feel the same,' the 53-year-old said. 'I would like one day to come back. Not because of my ego. It is because my feeling is that I would like one day to win with Tottenham. We were so close, and it was so painful.'
Postecoglou was asked about Pochettino's comments before Spurs' game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
'Mauricio, if he wants to come back one day I hope it happens for him,' Postecoglou said. 'We all have dreams and aspirations — if that is what he wants. You're suggesting he is trying to put pressure on me?
'I don't feel disrespected. If you ask Mauricio that question directly you will get a pretty clear answer as to what his intent was. Again, nothing for me to be consumed with. More focused on making sure we try to win tomorrow night.'
Postecoglou joined Spurs in June 2023 and guided them to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League in his first season. The Australian's second year in charge has been a lot more difficult with Tottenham suffering from an injury crisis and losing more than half of their league games. They are 14th in the table and 15 points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
After exiting the Carabao and FA Cup, Tottenham's only chance of lifting silverware this season, and qualifying for the Champions League, is by winning the Europa League. They face Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their quarter-final tie next week.
The Athletic reported on Thursday that Spurs had made Bournemouth's head coach Andoni Iraola their top target if they decide to part company with Postecoglou. The 59-year-old will still have one year left on his Spurs contract this summer, with the option of a further 12 months, but his future is in serious doubt beyond this season.
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Postecoglou said that he does not pay any attention to rumours about his future.
'I don't deal with it mate,' Postecoglou said. 'I know what my responsibilities are. I'm sure if the club decides to go in a different direction there are some outstanding candidates out there for it. Maybe somebody will think 'Ange Postecoglou is not a bad coach, maybe we will take a punt on him.'
'It doesn't rock my world. It doesn't consume me. I'm here. I'm passionate about what we are doing. I was brought into change the way the club plays, rejuvenate the squad, bring success and I'm focused on that. That's what I will keep doing.'
Tottenham have been handed a boost ahead of a crucial stage of the season as Richarlison is back in training and could be available to face Southampton this weekend while Kevin Danso and Dejan Kulusevski are 'progressing well' from foot and hamstring injuries respectively.
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