Jenas anticipates ‘boo boys’ for Pochettino’s return to Tottenham
The boo boys will be out’ – Jenas claims Pochettino ‘crossed the line’ by joining Chelsea
In a highly anticipated clash between London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday night, Mauricio Pochettino is expected to face a hostile reception from the “boo boys,” according to Jermaine Jenas.
Pochettino, who took charge of Tottenham in 2014, came close to securing the club’s first-ever Premier League title in his second season but ultimately fell short to Leicester City. He then finished as runners-up to Arsenal the following season and led Spurs to the Champions League final in 2019, where they were defeated by Liverpool.
However, Pochettino was sacked just five months after the Champions League final, with Tottenham struggling in the Premier League. He later joined Paris Saint-Germain but rumors of a return to England persisted. Manchester United was seen as the likely destination, but after they appointed Erik ten Hag in 2022, Pochettino was unveiled as the Chelsea manager this summer.
This adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already highly anticipated clash. Discussing the matter with fellow TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole, Jenas believes Pochettino needs to accept that his relationship with Spurs supporters has soured.
“The interesting part of the whole thing is the return of Mauricio – is he going to receive appreciation for what he did for that football club? Or will it just be a chorus of boos?” Jenas said.
“I think he crossed the line, that’s the issue. From your perspective, for example, you said to me a minute ago, ‘He’s Chelsea now.’
“He needs to come to terms with the fact that his time at Spurs is over and this rivalry is real. I think the boo boys will be out, and he will just have to accept it unfortunately.”
In terms of the game itself, both teams come into it with contrasting form. Despite the departure of star striker Harry Kane, Spurs have been impressive under new manager Ange Postecoglou, remaining unbeaten in the Premier League and achieving their best start to a league campaign in history.
On the other hand, Chelsea and Pochettino have struggled this season, sitting in 12th place after 10 games with only three wins and 12 points, despite significant investment in the squad.
Cole, a former Chelsea midfielder, believes Pochettino will turn the team’s fortunes around but highlighted the lack of goals as a major concern.
“I’ve watched Chelsea, and there are many positive aspects to the team,” Cole added. “The midfield looks settled now, which I’m happy with. Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, and Moises Caicedo provide a good balance and can do everything.
“But Pochettino hasn’t been able to settle on the back four. Benoit Badiashile is a player we’ve missed, and Axel Disasi has been played out of position at right-back. He’s a good player who has performed well at center-back.
“The main issue lies in the attacking end of the pitch. It’s frustrating because some of the players are lacking confidence and not even taking shots on goal. They need someone to lift them.”
Jenas agreed with Cole and predicted that his former club, Tottenham, would prove too strong at this stage of the season.
“When the ball isn’t hitting the back of the net, it weighs heavily on a team,” Jenas said. “It’s all well and good passing the ball around, but if you’re not scoring goals, it affects the team. Tottenham, under Ange, have not faltered yet. This is probably the biggest test he has faced due to the rivalry and the Pochettino storyline.
“But I believe that, based on their current form, no matter what energy Chelsea brings to the table, it’s just too soon for them to win away from home.