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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has expressed his support for Mauricio Pochettino's desire to return to the club one day, emphasizing that he did not feel disrespected by the Argentine's recent comments.
Pochettino, who managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019, stated last month that he hopes to reunite with the club in the future. Since leaving Tottenham, he has managed Paris St-Germain and Chelsea before taking on the role of United States head coach in September 2024.
Postecoglou, who took charge of Spurs in June 2023, is the club's fourth full-time manager since Pochettino's departure, following Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, and Antonio Conte. When asked about Pochettino's remarks, Postecoglou responded that if Pochettino wants to return one day, he hopes it happens for him. He dismissed suggestions that the Argentine was trying to put pressure on him and said everyone has dreams and aspirations.
With Tottenham struggling in 14th place in the Premier League, Postecoglou was asked whether Pochettino's comments were ill-timed. However, he dismissed the notion of disrespect, stating he did not feel disrespected and believed Pochettino had no bad intentions.
Pochettino remains a popular figure among some Spurs fans, having led the club to a second-place Premier League finish in 2016-17, the 2015 EFL Cup final, and the 2019 Champions League final. However, his tenure with the U.S. national team has been challenging, with three defeats in his first eight matches, including consecutive losses to Panama and Canada last month. He was brought in to build momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
Postecoglou, under contract at Tottenham until 2027, faces mounting pressure as the club risks its worst Premier League finish since 2003-04. Ahead of their match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, speculation over his future persists. If Spurs were to part ways with him and attempt to bring back Pochettino, they would need to pay a significant compensation fee to the U.S. Soccer Federation. Reports suggest Pochettino earns £4.6 million annually under his two-year contract.
Speaking before the Chelsea game, Postecoglou reiterated that he does not let speculation over his future affect him and that it does not consume him. He remains focused on what he was brought in to do—change the way Tottenham plays, rejuvenate the squad, and bring success. He also confirmed there are no new injuries, but Richarlison is unlikely to feature on Thursday, though he may be ready for the weekend. Kulusevski and Danso are expected to return in the coming weeks.
Postecoglou also saw positives in the recent international break, with players like Romero, Udogie, Tel, and Odobert getting valuable game time after missing matches earlier in the season. He acknowledged that facing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge will be a tough challenge, describing them as a talented squad with a good manager. He noted that Chelsea, like Spurs, have struggled with injuries but remain a tough team to beat at home. He believes a strong performance against them could help build confidence for the rest of the season.
