Mauricio Pochettino admits he still watches Spurs games 'with a smile'
By Sean Walsh
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he still loves Tottenham and opened up on reports that the club wanted to bring him back this summer.
Friday marked two years to the day since Pochettino was sacked by Spurs, who are beginning life under the Argentine's former rival Antonio Conte.
But Pochettino admitted in an interview with the Guardian that he still watches Tottenham games with affection for his former club.
“When I watch the games now, it’s always with a smile and trying to support them because when you love a club and you feel at home, always you wish the best for the people that you know,” he said.
Pochettino's footballing romanticism led to the topic of Harry Kane remaining with his boyhood club, despite attempting to force a move to Manchester City in the summer.
“I love Tottenham fans and I love Tottenham and I am so happy that Harry is in Tottenham,” Pochettino continued. “But I want the best for Harry and I want the best for Tottenham. That’s it, no?”
After Jose Mourinho was sacked at the back end of the 2020/21 season, Spurs' long search for a new head coach eventually led them to Nuno Espirito Santo - but Pochettino was also a contender for the job and he was heavily linked with a return.
The Argentine refused to comment on speculation at the time, but has revealed that this is because he did not drive the story and so wouldn't give it the time of day.
“You never know from where these rumours appear and I am a person who doesn’t like to take advantage of these things,” he said.
“That’s why I didn’t talk. The people criticised me here in France, the media. ‘Why doesn’t Mauricio give his word about staying in Paris?’
"But when you don’t create things, why am I going to say something? I don’t need to clarify things. Of course, I listened to everything. But, yes...never happened, that.”
Pochettino also joked with the idea that PSG triggered an extension in his contract in order to fend off any advances Spurs were contemplating.
The Argentine returns to the scene of one of his most memorable nights as Tottenham manager next week when PSG take on Man City at the Etihad Stadium.