The extensive quotes from the gaffer in The Guardian yesterday are well worth a gander.
Particularly this closing comment about the Argentine’s next project.
“We are people who always need to be ahead and anticipate problems. You always put yourself in five years’ time, 10 years’ time or tomorrow. We need to be ahead of the players, ahead of the fans. Our responsibility is to create a project again.”
The ball is well and truly embedded in Daniel Levy’s court.
In 5 years time, Harry Kane will be 30 years old and pondering his professional swansong.
In 5 years time, the Tottenham Hotspur squad will look dramatically different than it does today.
5 years is short term in any sector – let alone the cut-throat world of top flight football – Pochettino talking about where he will be in 10 years smacks of a desire for perspective
What is clear, is that this final is a seminal moment in the club’s history, and not just because if the occasion itself.
This blog (Est. 2006) was still in its relative infancy when we won the League cup in 2008. That cup winning team virtually began disbanding as the coach pulled out of Wembley Way, which came as somewhat of a shock to most, if not all fans.
Over a decade down the road, and the situation is perhaps a great deal clearer.
We know that Kyle Walker and Danny Rose both wanted out despite the brave new world pitch of the new stadium, etc etc.
Over a decade down the road, and we also know that Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen have been unwilling to commit beyond next season.
Pochettino’s ‘next chapter’ could well start with more of a blank page than some might believe.
After the Champions League final we can only know two things with absolute certainty.
One; should Spurs win, then Poch can coast at Spurs, in so much that a mandatorytop four spot could be described as coasting.
Two; should Spurs lose, then Levy will have to provide an iron clad committment to Maurico that the squad will be reinforced sufficiently to facilitate a far more credible tilt at silverware. And not at some fictional future date.
It was a particularly odd acknowledgement from Poch during the week, that Liverpool had spent in order to win a trophy.
Tottenham spent far far more, but on bricks and mortar.
Poch will definitely be at a crossroads here, but make no mistake, ENIC will not be.
