We’ve heard of player swaps, but manager swap are rare, yet Antonio Conte’s move to PSG and Mauricio Pochettino’s return to Tottenham appears to be gaining traction.
Despite the Argentine coach leading PSG to the Ligue 1 title over the weekend, Paris Saint-Germain is likely to fire Pochettino, according to various sources in France, including this one in Le Parisien.
PSG is rumored to be interested in hiring current Tottenham manager Antonio Conte to replace Pochettino, allowing the latter to return to Spurs.
Do you have a whirlwind in your head? Mine as well. But, if this were to happen, and if it did, would it be better for everyone?
Is it possible that a manager swap will take place?
For this to happen, a lot of things would have to fall into place, but it is possible.
Conte has little over a year left on the 18-month deal he signed to take command of Tottenham, and his first six months in charge haven’t exactly gone well. Despite this, he has Spurs in contention for fourth place coming into the final five games of the season, and a top-four finish would be incredible.
However, if he does not play in the Champions League next season, his entire Spurs project could be jeopardized.
While transfer funds will be limited and the rigors of the Europa League will undoubtedly damage their Premier League form, Harry Kane may be pushing to leave once more. Conte will decide on his Tottenham future in the summer, according to The Telegraph, since he believes the north London club has to buy at least six new players to match his objectives.’
Conte might leave for PSG this summer, giving Spurs a ready-made replacement who adores the club, performed a fantastic job from 2014 to 2019, and has demonstrated he can convert them into top-four contenders.
Is this a viable option?
In the end, it all comes down to Conte.
He will leave Tottenham if he wants to. Tottenham is more in need of Conte than Conte is of Tottenham.
He’s already shown his class by turning things around in the last six months, but would he reject the chance to coach Messi, Neymar, and other superstars in the Champions League if PSG offered him the opportunity? Most likely not. Zinedine Zidane is a candidate for both the PSG and France posts, and it appears that he prefers the latter, leaving Conte’s door open.
The transition from Pochettino to Tottenham is the more difficult aspect.
Poch is adored by Spurs fans, players, and almost everyone else associated with the club. According to several accounts, Daniel Levy maintains frequent contact with Pochettino, and there appeared to be a very real potential of him coming to Spurs last summer after Jose Mourinho was fired, and again in the fall after Nuno Espirito Santo was fired.
Is Pochettino the perfect man to bring Tottenham back to the Champions League and compete for a trophy if he is sacked by PSG? If Conte decides to go, he would most likely be the best manager available for Spurs this summer, therefore it would make sense. It starts to make sense when you consider Pochettino’s history with the club.
Spurs’ Plan A is Conte, but Pochettino is an excellent Plan B.
