Mauricio Pochettino has always been good company – warm, engaging and likeable. After they had a few weeks to re-establish themselves away from the spotlight, there were enthusiastic hugs everywhere for Sky Sports News team as we all swapped summer stories. However, he has been busier than ours.
The former Tottenham manager led the USA to the last 16 of the World Cup, where the host nation’s dreams of victory were dashed against Belgium, but that hardly tells the story of a remarkable few weeks for the Argentine.
There was Donald Trump — there always would be — and locker room team talk. There was the suspension of Trump, FIFA and Folarin Balogun, and along the way, Pochettino became a fashion icon.
Then a few weeks later, another significant headline – Pochettino had signed, perhaps a little surprisingly, for another four years with the USA.
Where to start? I smile before joking, and Pochettino just laughs and says he’s ready. His World Cup reflections seem like a good place to go.
For Pochettino, the biggest thing is how much he and his coaching staff, including his long-term lieutenant Jesus Perez, have learned.
“We are much better coaches now,” he insists. It’s revealing because the World Cup has fueled his appetite to keep learning and evolving. He talks about the importance of the smallest details, the difficulty of getting every decision right and the challenge of translating his ideas to a group of players who spend far less time together than a club. He adds: “Everything must be perfect.”
There were times on tour when life must have felt a little wild, I suggest. There’s World Cup management, then there’s World Cup management at home for a nation whose president is more in the limelight. Unsurprisingly, Pochettino chooses his words carefully, focusing on the backing and support Trump gave the side.
At the time, he was asked about his role in ending Balogun’s suspension and he admitted that “politics and manipulation” overshadowed the game against Belgium. Pochettino understood the anger surrounding the situation, but his role was much simpler – “If you pay attention to the noise, you become mad.” FIFA cleared Balogun to play and he says, “When the letter arrived the day before the match confirming that Balogun was available, the decision was straightforward.”
Balogun has been in the headlines again in recent weeks after his proposed move from Monaco to Everton collapsed late on Deadline Day. Pochettino has not spoken to him yet. He has deliberately given her some space because he knows it would have been a difficult situation. He says he would like to see Balogu playing in the Premier League. Instead, he remains in Monaco and Pochettino hopes he can get himself into a good place.
“I hope to return to the Premier League in the future”
Mauricio Pochettino is in charge of the USA from September 2024
Of course it was also fashion. Pochettino has always taken his style seriously, but I’m not sure even he could have imagined the impact his navy ensemble would have had. He made his own headlines – not least because Wayne Rooney went out and bought him. “I saw it. It looked good, like a trainer ball,” he laughs.
It was truly a summer that had it all.
Then, as the football world moved on from the World Cup, rumors began linking Pochettino with a number of clubs looking for a manager. But this speculation was short-lived with the news that he would be staying in the US.
If Pochettino sees out his contract until 2030, six years away from club football feels like a long time. Is his Premier League story over? He disagrees and for him his desire is not only to return to English football, but to compete for honours.
“I have ambitions,” he says. “My dream now is to be in the USA for four years, but after that, why not? We’re still young, and I think that coming back is always my goal; to win the Premier League, to be in the Premier League and build a project with the chance to win.”
“I like football here. I think to have the opportunity again is one of my wishes and I hope it happens.”
Did Poch come close to Spurs comeback?
Pochettino guided co-hosts USA into the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup
This unfinished business brings me back to an interview I did with Pochettino 18 months ago – he spoke of wanting to return to Spurs one day. At the time, Tottenham were struggling under Ange Postecoglou. Since then, Postecoglou has left and Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor have come and gone as the club edged dangerously close to relegation.
So did that call to save the club ever come? Pochettino says of a comeback: “I always say, one day, why not?”
So was it ever a possibility this time? Pochettino says: “People talk and maybe we have an approach, but it’s never been close.” Not this time then.
What about some of those other jobs – at one point AC Milan looked like a possible destination.
“We weren’t open during the World Cup to talk to different clubs that were interested,” he says.
But were there any clubs interested? “Yes, always,” he says as if that’s the norm. “Yeah, you always have different options,” he teases.
I try again – did any of them come close to attracting attention? “We never gave a chance to be close. We always closed the door before it closed.”
Poch appreciates old clubs Spurs and Chelsea
Pochettino (left) and assistant Jesus Perez were in attendance at Craven Cottage on Saturday to watch Fulham’s defeat by Crystal Palace
But where is his old club Tottenham now, because I joke that it’s never boring at Spurs.
“They are investing like other clubs”, and Pochettino sees the logic after some difficult seasons. Tottenham have changed their approach and are spending big on players who already know the Premier League. I think how close Pochettino came to giving Spurs glory in the league and Europe and how little he spent in comparison – what would he have given to have £300m to spend? There’s a devilish grin on his face and he claims he can’t figure out what £300 million is.
So does he think this new strategy will work? “I never know,” he replies. “We need time to see if it works or not.
“Like in all games, when you make a decision as a manager that can work well or not. I think it’s a different strategy and a different way of doing things. I always wish the best for Tottenham because it’s in my heart.”
There has also been a big change in direction at his former club Chelsea. The coaching role he held two years ago has now been changed to manager, while there has been a significant shift in transfer policy with the club buying Premier League-ready players rather than projects under Xabi Alonso.
Pochettino is reluctant to make direct comparisons, but he sees similarities in the ambitions of both clubs and admits that “buying players like that you can expect to fight, to be a contender for the Premier League”.
Chelsea’s defeat to Arsenal has already provided an early reality check, but Pochettino is asking for patience with Alonso.
“Of course they are disappointed after the defeat against Arsenal, but I think we have to give time to Xabi’s first season after three games in the Premier League,” he says.
I think we have to give time, and certainly the same for Tottenham.”
For Pochettino, Arsenal are very much in pole position.
“Mikel (Arteta) is the best coach in the Premier League today,” he says. “Knowing what he has to do, it’s going to be hard to beat them.”
