Sport
What is the right job for Mauricio Pochettino?
Eight months have now passed since Mauricio Pochettino last held a job in football management. Paris Saint-Germain was a difficult environment for the Argentine coach and he has since been waiting for the right opportunity to get back into the game, but what would the right opportunity look like?
Pochettino’s name is frequently mentioned in the gossip column with Chelsea the latest to be linked with the 50-year-old. He is sure to re-enter top level management at some point in the near future and here are three clubs that could be tempted to hire Pochettino.
Chelsea
Graham Potter is struggling badly at Chelsea with the Blues without a win in their last six games in all competitions. The Stamford Bridge club continue to back Potter, but their stance will be difficult to maintain if this dreadful run continues any longer. Pochettino is available and could take over before the end of the season.
Pochettino’s modern brand of football would be a good fit for the squad currently at Chelsea. At Tottenham Hotspur, the Argentine based his game on defensive strength and the Blues have good personnel at the back. Chelsea’s attackers would also surely fare better under Pochettino than they are under Potter right now.
Juventus
Juventus are enduring a difficult season with Max Allegri under a lot of pressure. The 55-year-old has only managed to keep his job this long due to the Old Lady’s financial position and their inability to find the money to sack him. Should that change, though, Pochettino could be on their shortlist of potential replacements.
Pochettino has coached in England, France and Spain, but has yet to test himself in Italy. Juve are at a low ebb and there are questions over the quality of their current squad, but they remain the biggest and most historically successful club in the country. The attraction of restoring Juventus to their former glory would be strong.
Real Madrid
Florentino Perez is a known fan of Pochettino. He wanted the Argentine when he was at Tottenham Hotspur and has long seen him as a future Real Madrid manager. With Los Blancos well adrift of Barcelona in the La Liga title race, Carlo Ancelotti might need to win the Champions League to keep his job.
There would be a lot of talent at the Santiago Bernabeu for Pochettino to work with. Real Madrid’s quick transition style would be a good fit for Pochettino while Karim Benzema is a similar profile of centre forward to Harry Kane – both strikers like to drop deep and link up play in all areas of the attacking third.
Tottenham Hotspur
There is a sense Pochettino would jump at a return to Tottenham Hotspur. The North London club wanted the Argentine back before appointing Nuno Espirito Santo two summers ago, but PSG wouldn’t let him speak to his former employers. Now, of course, Spurs have Antonio Conte in place as their current manager.
Conte is only under contract until the end of the season and there is doubt over whether the Italian will stay at Tottenham. An exit could open the door for a Pochettino return to North London which would be extremely popular with the club’s supporters. He could pick up where he left off, although Spurs’ squad has changed dramatically in the three years since his first stint.
