Pochettino ‘excited’ to face Tottenham with Chelsea

Spurs Homecoming: Pochettino Excited for Special Reunion

In a highly anticipated clash, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is set to return to his former club Tottenham Hotspur for the first time since taking charge at Stamford Bridge. The Argentine spent five successful years at Spurs, leading them to their first-ever UEFA Champions League final in 2019. However, he was sacked later that year due to a string of disappointing results.

Ahead of the Monday night showdown at 8pm, Pochettino expressed his happiness at returning to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. “For me, it will be a happy day,” he revealed. “We are professional, but at the same time, we are human and we feel.”

The 51-year-old went on to describe the occasion as “special,” acknowledging the incredible memories they created together during his time at the club. “It’s special, I’m not going to lie. That is true,” he added. “When we left the club, it was a difficult moment, but now I have the opportunity to come back and see many people who are still working there. It will be an exciting moment.”

When asked if the reunion would be similar to seeing an ex-girlfriend, Pochettino humorously replied, “It’s difficult because I have had nearly 32 years with my wife, and I don’t know if I remember or even if I had a girlfriend before.”

Pochettino began his managerial career at La Liga side Espanyol before making his mark in the Premier League with Southampton. He then joined Tottenham in May 2014, where he enjoyed tremendous success before his departure.

Following his time at Spurs, Pochettino took charge of Paris Saint-Germain, securing his first managerial trophies with the club, including the 2021 Coupe de France and the 2022 Ligue 1 title.

Since joining Chelsea earlier this year, Pochettino has faced challenges in turning the team’s fortunes around. The Blues currently sit 11th in the Premier League table, with 12 points from 10 matches. In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports’ Glenn Hoddle, Pochettino stressed the importance of time to implement his ideas.

In contrast, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham find themselves at the top of the Premier League table with an impressive 26 points.

Pochettino admitted uncertainty about the reception he would receive upon his return to North London but assured that he would “respect” the fans regardless. “I’m not going to say anything at the moment,” he said. “Until Monday, we can’t guess.”

He concluded by stating, “We can’t forget everything we lived together, and I’m going to respect the people and how they feel. It won’t change my emotions, my feelings about a club where we had an unbelievable journey.”