Liverpool vs Tottenham: Mauricio Pochettino refuses to give any assurances over his Spurs future

The Argentine was strongly linked with Manchester United until Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was permanently appointed while Zinedine Zidane has scuppered any chance of a move to Real Madrid

Jonathan Veal
Saturday 30 March 2019 10:46 GMT
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Mauricio Pochettino reacts to Tottenham's defeat against Southampton

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is unable to give assurances he will still be in the job next season.

Pochettino had been linked with the vacant positions at Manchester United and Real Madrid, but with the respective appointments of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Zinedine Zidane interest in the Argentinian has ended.

Pochettino knows things change in football far too quickly to take anything for granted.

Asked whether he could say he would definitely be at Spurs next season, he replied: "But again it's the same question as two months ago, three months ago.

"Why has it changed? It does not depend only on me, it's about Daniel (Levy). Of course I know he is happy with me and that is what he is telling me.

"But I understand Tottenham is bigger than one person. Tottenham is bigger than one player, Tottenham is bigger than everything.

"Always, you need to feel my position here is I need to fight every day to keep my position. That doesn't mean I am not comfortable.

"Always I tell Jesus (Perez, assistant manager), we need to think that maybe tomorrow if we don't care about our position maybe we can go away quick. Football changes the same very quickly.

"It's difficult to say I am now happy and sure I will be here next season. If I said that and something wrong happened and I'm not here then you say, 'Oh Pochettino said he will be here and now he's not here'.

"I don't say because maybe the rumour can be true or Daniel can say 'it's enough, I need another manager'.

"In my mind, always I am living today can be the last day, tomorrow can be the last day. That is my philosophy.

Mauricio Pochettino has not given any assurances of his long-term future at Tottenham
Mauricio Pochettino has not given any assurances of his long-term future at Tottenham (Getty)

"Look at what happened at Real Madrid. Zidane said, 'I go', then two managers and not even the end of the season and he's back. Who believed that?

"That is why in football, you must respect football because everything that today is white, tomorrow is black and then white again. I try to live with this respect and knowing things can turn so quickly."

Pochettino is plotting to become the first team to win at Anfield in the Premier League this season as they bid to revive their season.

Solskjaer beat Pochettino to the permanent Manchester United job
Solskjaer beat Pochettino to the permanent Manchester United job (Getty)

Spurs travel to Liverpool to play their first game for 22 days aiming to stop a rot that saw them take just one point from their four matches before their hiatus.

That saw them not only slip out of the title race, which the Reds are currently leading, but also put their top-four spot under serious jeopardy as themselves, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are separated by just four points.

They could not be handed a tougher task on their resumption, which came due to the FA Cup quarter-finals and the international break, as Jurgen Klopp's side have dropped just four points in front of their own fans this season in draws with Manchester City and Leicester.

Spurs have not won there in the league in 11 years, although they did take a point in a dramatic draw last season.

"The motivation is to change our dynamic of the results, we need to start to feel again the victory," Pochettino said.

"It is a challenge to go there. They are unbeaten in Premier League at Anfield, it is going to be a massive challenge.

Mauricio Pochettino's side hold a perfect record at their new home
Mauricio Pochettino's side hold a perfect record at their new home (Getty)

"We respect them, they are doing good job, very good team, it will be tough.

"Last season, the game was very tough, (our) performance was good, and it was a good point, to start to build in our mind the determination to go there and be competitive and win the game.

"But of course it is going to be difficult."

PA

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