Former coach of Tottenham Hotspur Mauricio Pochettino has reflected on how he always thought that he would replace Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. He said he has joked about it with Mourinho when the Portuguese tactician was still in Madrid (2010-2013).
However, the reverse was the case as Mourinho ended up replacing him at Tottenham Hotspur in November 2019. The argentine said though his wish has been reversed, he is happy that it was Mourinho that replaced him at his former club.
Mauricio Pochettino who spent about 4 years with Tottenham Hotspur had to be sacked a season after he took the club to UEFA Champions League final which they lost to a fellow Premier League side, Liverpool football club.
The Champions League lost wasn’t the reason Pochettino was asked to go, he started the 2019-2020 season in a very bad note, leaving the club at the 14th position on the league table.
In less than four months after Jose Mourinho took over the North London club, he was able to turn the fortune of the club around by taking the club to the 8th position on the league table before the season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Since then, Pochettino has been jobless but still receiving payment from Tottenham in line with the agreement he had with the club. The agreement will stand until the Argentine is able to get another job.
“I am so happy he [Mourinho] is at Tottenham, replacing me”, he said. “I am happy as well to have left the club in the condition that we left it and for sure he is very grateful for the way that we helped to build the club, which is now his club.
“I always think I’d replace him. He was at Real Madrid. I say: ‘Oh, maybe one day I can take your place at Real Madrid,’ but look at how life works out. He has taken my place at Tottenham. Unbelievable, eh?
“We are looking forward to the next job. Football is very dynamic and you need to be ready for the moment when the offer appears. We are ready. After six months, our tanks are completely full.”
