Mauricio Pochettino has done an incredible job at Spurs. Operating on a shoestring budget in comparison to his rivals, the Argentine has ensured his side continue to compete on both domestic and continental fronts.
His record over the past few years mean he has been continually linked with a move away from White Hart Lane. The likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United were interested in the manager, but neither of those moves materialised.
While Real Madrid would replace Zinedine Zidane with Julen Lopetegui, only for Zidane to make a surprising return to the club a few months later, things could have been very different for the Spanish club.
Speaking to Spanish outlet El Pais, Mauricio Pochettino revealed that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy blocked a 'dream' move to Real Madrid.
The situation was difficult. The dream of every coach was at stake: to lead the biggest team that exists. And you must say no. That is momentous.
It creates a conflict because you know that if a coach wants to leave, he leaves. But I had just signed a renewal with Tottenham. And I felt that I could not do anything. Daniel Levy did not accept the offers to free me and if they ask me to break the contract I cannot accept it because I cannot behave like that.
If my chairman thinks I'm going to continue, I'm not going to run off. Those are not my values. Why is it going to be good for a club to sign a coach who violates his commitments?
Honest stuff. While Pochettino is clearly interested in a move to the Spanish capital, he is also committed to the Spurs project.It seems however, that his time at the club may come to an end sooner than we would have anticipated.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of tonight's Champions League semi final against Ajax, the Spurs boss said winning the European Cup this season could lead him to 'go home' and look for 'something different':
Wait, is Mauricio Pochettino saying he’ll leave Tottenham if they win the Champions League this season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/NcbIkIZ20A
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 8, 2019
Winning the Champions League? It should be fantastic, no? Close the five-year chapter and go home
We are living a dream. Five years ago, when we arrived, the target was to reduce the gap to the top four, and then to have the possibility to play in the Champions League.
Nobody would believe we would be playing in the Champions League three seasons in a row and competing at this stage.
To win in these circumstances this season, maybe I need to think about maybe doing something different in the future.
Certainly interesting comments. Winning the Champions League would certainly be an incredible achievement, and perhaps Pochettino feels he could not bring the club any further.
This would seem to suggest that he would stay at the club should they fail to bring home the trophy, but Spurs fans will be concerned that he is clearly thinking of life after his current job.
