'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tottenham Hotspur have not had the best possible start to the season and that is plain to see from their deplorable league position. But despite their woes, the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino sent shock waves through the football world since some people could reasonably claim that the Argentine gaffer deserved more time given all the good work that he did for Spurs during his time in North London.
But on the other side of the same coin is the fact that Spurs have looked a shadow of their former selves this season. More importantly, Pochettino seemed to have lost his command over the Spurs dressing room since the beginning of the ongoing season. This also had a lot to do with the fact that some of Spurs’ best players from last season were neither given contract extensions or allowed to leave for greener pastures in the summer.
With the team in dire straits going into the international break, Daniel Levy wasted no time in sacking Pochettino. But it is the Argentine's replacement who has been making all the headlines over the last few days with Levy picking none other than Jose Mourinho to fill the void left behind by Pochettino.
Mourinho’s Immediate Check List at Spurs
Mourinho and Pochettino are as different as chalk and cheese, not just in terms of their personalities but also when it comes to their footballing philosophies. While Pochettino endorsed a high-pressing possession-based style of play, Mourinho prides himself in a solid defence and fast counter-attacks.
And as luck would have it, the squad that Mourinho has inherited from Pochettino is tailor-made for the Portuguese manager’s brand of football. But the biggest task that Mourinho has on his hands right now is to figure out his best defence. Though Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are two of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, the ‘Special One’ will have to get both these Belgians to focus on the present.
Meanwhile, Christian Eriksen has been at the heart of most of the good things that Spurs have created in the recent past, but the Danish international is another of those who finds himself unsettled at the moment. But the former AFC Ajax man gave his new manager a timely reminder of his abilities with a cameo against Olympiacos F.C. in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
After coming on as a first-half substitute for Eric Dier, Eriksen took a while to settle into the Spurs midfield. But as the game went on, he managed to find his passing range and eventually set up Harry Kane for Spurs’ fourth and final goal of the night. If Mourinho can get Eriksen to commit his future to the club, the duo can go on to make history together.
But perhaps the part that Mourinho is most excited about at Spurs is working with their potent attack that includes the likes of Kane, Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Dele Alli. And each of them have given a good account of themselves in the last two games by playing a part in the goals that Spurs scored against West Ham and AFC Ajax respectively.
From Title Pretenders to Title Contenders
Despite building one of the most stable and consistent clubs in the Premier League during his tenure at Spurs, Pochettino failed to win a single trophy at the club and it eventually cost the Argentine his job. However, that has to be the one and only ‘failure’ during his time at Spurs, the fact that he could not take Spurs to the next level.
And Mourinho is perhaps the best manager to bridge that gap for the North London club and take them from title pretenders to title contenders at long last. The appointment of Mourinho does signal the start of a new era at Spurs since he comes with a recipe for instant success, Spurs fans might not have to wait for much longer to taste success.
Having said that, if Mourinho does go on to work his instant magic at Spurs, the work of his predecessor, Pochettino, should not be forgotten. After all, Mourinho will be reaping the fruits of Pochettino’s five years of labour. In addition to this, let’s not forget that Mourinho’s success at a club often comes at a heavy cost as he leaves behind a disjointed dressing room and a feeling of unrest among the fans.
If history does go on to repeat itself, Spurs will find themselves in a place where they need a manager in the Pochettino mould to help them rebuild. But that will be easier said than done as managers like Pochettino do not come around too often in the modern era as was pointed out by Gary Lineker. Whichever way you look at it, Pochettino’s shadow will definitely hover over Spurs for years to come.
