Mauricio Pochettino talks Tottenham return hope, Chelsea and managing England

Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino made the bold choice to take over the US national team after leaving Stamford Bridge and has finally explained the truth behind potentially managing England

Ex- Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino says he has “unfinished business” – and could go back to manage them one day. Pochettino has a brilliant relationship with the Tottenham fans after leading them to a Champions League final and transforming their fortunes despite not being able to win a trophy during his five years in charge.

When asked whether he still has unfinished business, US boss Pochettino said: “I am going to repeat. In the bottom of my heart I still feel the same. I would like one day to come back. Not because of my ego it’s because my feeling is I would like one day to win with Tottenham.

“I think now Tottenham is a club with an expectation to win because if you see the facilities – training ground or stadium – now you can see it is about winning trophies. That is why I would like one day to come back.

“But if that doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. With all the possibilities again to build something special, that is my feeling and it didn’t change. It’s six years since we left and it’s always going to be a special club for me.”

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While Pochettino enjoyed plenty of success with Spurs – despite a lack of silverware – he did not get the same opportunity with London rivals Chelsea. The Argentine only lasted a year at Stamford Bridge before being replaced by Enzo Maresca.

But Pochettino insists he is still proud of the job he did in West London. He added: “In all the circumstances, we can be proud of the way we finished. In all this, we have experience. And in all this type of project, you need time. Sometimes you work well and are doing well but you don’t get what you deserve. And sometimes you keep pushing and in the end you get what you deserve.

“The team in the beginning suffered many, many problems, and even then were performing well without getting the results we wanted, and in the end were doing really, really well. If you see the table in the last six months you can see the progression was massive.

“We became a team fighting for the top four and that was a good thing to keep going in the season after. We are very grateful to Chelsea because it gave us the opportunity to be involved in project where us as a coaching staff learned a lot.”

Would Pochettino have made a good England boss? Share your thoughts in the comments below

Away from his work in the Premier League, Pochettino was also regularly linked with another huge job on English shores. He was touted as a potential replacement for Gareth Southgate as England boss.

The FA eventually plumped for Thomas Tuchel, while US Soccer appointed Pochettino last summer while the search for Southgate’s replacement was on-going.And while Pochettino says England “feels like home”, he admitted that being an Argentinian with all the history would have made it very difficult.

When asked if he would have considered it, Pochettino said: “Yes, of course… England is like my home now. It’s my home, but it’s true that I am Argentine, that can be controversial!

“But it never happened, I was never put in that position. But I love England. I know the relationship between the people in England, English citizens and Argentine citizens is very good. Because we have very good things that link us. But for sure, the history is there.

“And always can be controversial, an Argentine guy defending the badge, the flag of England. I think it’s completely different to be here in the Premier League, involved in a club. But I think that is another thing. But because it never happened, it’s not a situation that we need to analyse.”

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