Mauricio Pochettino distances himself from Spurs return but backs club to avoid relegation

Mauricio Pochettino once again distanced himself from links to a return to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, while expressing his confidence that his former club will avoid relegation despite a challenging season.

Pochettino, who led Spurs to some of their greatest successes in the modern era during a tenure from 2014-2019, has often been linked with a return to the club. However, his position as head coach of the US men’s national team has prevented him from taking over this season as Tottenham have floundered. Pochettino will not be available for his next job until after this summer’s World Cup, as his US Soccer contract expires in August.

Speaking with reporters ahead of the US’s Tuesday friendly against Portugal, Pochettino said that his “full focus” is on leading the US at a home World Cup.

“I think everyone knows that I am committed with the national team here,” Pochettino said, adding that nobody has approached him about jobs at Tottenham or Real Madrid, where he has also been linked should the club decide to move on from Álvaro Arbeloa.

Pochettino also left open the possibility that he could extend his stay with the US.

“Who knows what is going to happen,” he said. “We are open. We don’t have a contract for the future. But why not? If we are happy and the federation is happy, it’s only about to see … Never say never in football.

“But now it’s not time to talk. It’s time to be focusing [on] the World Cup, and after the World Cup, for sure, we will have time to talk in some way or another, depending on the vision of the federation and also our feeling.”

Asked about Tottenham’s recent form, which has the club hovering just one point above the relegation places with seven matches to play, Pochettino expressed confidence that Spurs will beat the drop, regardless of who is in charge next. Spurs are targeting Robert De Zerbi to take over, with the club reportedly offering him a long-term contract to start immediately.

“I am sure they’re going to stay up, with coach or without coach,” Pochettino said. “Because of the players, because I think they have unbelievable players, and it’s a club with fans that are going to make everything to create that energy to win. Of course, that is going to be tough, because the energy and the dynamics is difficult … But if you ask me about that club, it’s a club that I really care [about], and for sure, I really trust that [they’re] going to stay in Premier League.”