EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Mauricio Pochettino said Saturday night after the U.S. men’s national team’s 2-1 defeat to Turkey that a return to Tottenham Hotspur at this point in time was “not realistic.”
Asked by a reporter whether he had seen the rumors connecting him to the Spurs job, Pochettino was at first confused by the question. Had he seen the rumors, or was the reporter asking if he was going to take the job? Either way, his answer was clear.
Tottenham fired Ange Postecoglou on Friday despite his leading Spurs to the Europa League title, the club’s first trophy in 17 years. The club also finished 17th in the Premier League with its worst points total and finish in the Premier League era. Pochettino’s name has been batted around the betting odds to return to his old job, which he held from 2014-19 to great acclaim.
The Argentine pointed out that since leaving Spurs, he has been connected to the Tottenham job each time it has opened. He also pointed out that lists of Spurs’ candidates are always long, and his is just one of many names. Pochettino famously led Tottenham to the 2019 Champions League final.
“It’s not realistic,” Pochettino said. “And look at where I am, where [my staff] are.”
Pochettino was talking after the U.S. suffered its third straight loss. The U.S. will play in the Gold Cup this summer and Pochettino is under contract through the end of the 2026 World Cup.
As he walked off the press conference stage, Pochettino said the rumors are only there because, “it’s my club,” he said, meaning Tottenham. He touched his chest.
(Top photo: Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)