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It was the monkey on his again all through his complete profession at Tottenham. Now, simply days into his PSG tenure, Mauricio Pochettino has the prospect to finish his trophy hoodoo within the Trophee des Champions closing towards Marseille.
Whereas it is likely to be the French equal of the Neighborhood Defend, they are saying a trophy is a trophy – and that will likely be precisely the philosophy the Argentine will tackle as he walks out along with his new gamers and bids to see off fellow former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Pochettino appears to have all of the instruments to create success within the French capital – together with superstars like World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel Di Maria, and getting his first piece of silverware within the bag will definitely assist him sleep higher in Paris.
Mauricio Pochettino can lastly break his trophy duck by beating Marseille on Wednesday
His crew at PSG are ready-made for achievement and he’s anticipated to win huge within the French capital
He constructed a formidable legacy at Spurs but it surely was tainted by a relentless failure to win silverware
And understandably so, given the psychological torment he suffered in his failure to safe one at Spurs. And the way shut he got here too – arising brief in two finals and three semi-finals.
Similar to with PSG, Pochettino additionally had the chance to grab a primary trophy in his first season at Tottenham in 2015 – though it was a way more daunting process towards an skilled Chelsea aspect managed by Jose Mourinho.
By the use of comparability, his youthful Spurs crew had a median age of 24 and have been filled with tough diamonds – however none who may make the distinction on the massive day. Targets from John Terry and Diego Costa have been sufficient to win it for the Blues, however the message from the north Londoners was one in every of positivity.
‘These gamers are younger and can study from this, Pochettino wants time’.
His younger Spurs aspect got here up brief in 2015 as they have been crushed by an skilled Chelsea
However sadly, they by no means did learn to win a trophy below his management, and neither did the Argentine.
His subsequent huge likelihood got here two years later towards the identical difficult opponent on the similar venue of Wembley. This time it was the FA Cup semi-final, with Antonio Conte his reverse quantity this time.
After Willian had twice put Chelsea in entrance, Spurs hit again via Harry Kane and Dele Alli however Eden Hazard struck late on and a Nemanja Matic marvel purpose from distance dashed any hopes of a spot within the closing.
Similar to after their cup closing loss to the Blues, Pochettino insisted he was ‘proud’ of the crew and mentioned Chelsea have been merely extra medical, however there was a resentment starting to construct among the many Tottenham devoted – who have been rising uninterested in their popularity as ‘bottlers’ on the massive event.
The Blues tormented them as soon as once more two years later within the 2017 FA Cup semi-finals
Pochettino insisted he was ‘proud’ of his gamers however Spurs followers started to develop pissed off
Spurs didn’t banish that label after reaching the identical stage of the FA Cup the next season. It was case of Deja Vu as Tottenham had their desires crushed by Mourinho as soon as once more – as Manchester United got here from a purpose right down to win the 2017-18 semi-final 2-1.
It was after this recreation that the cracks began to indicate in Pochettino’s religion that his Spurs undertaking would lastly elevate off, admitting ‘we’re shut however we can’t attain’ and mentioned they have been ‘a great distance’ from the extent they wished.
‘To compete in any such recreation, I feel we’re able to compete – however win is totally different,’ he mentioned. ‘Crucial [thing] is that we’re on this course of, that after 4 years we are able to compete and that’s unbelievable.
A dismal defeat to United on the similar stage in 2018 prompted Pochettino to assert Spurs have been ‘a great distance’ from profitable trophies
‘However the disappointment and frustration is that we’re shut however we can’t attain. I informed your colleague earlier than that with me or one other teaching workers the membership must push on, working on this path and will likely be unbelievable at some point for Tottenham to achieve the identical stage because the golf equipment like Manchester United and Manchester Metropolis. However an extended option to work to reach at this subsequent stage.’
It seems he was proper because the 2018-19 season introduced one other semi-final loss to Chelsea – this time within the Carabao Cup – earlier than his most agonising day in cost got here within the Champions League closing.
His gamers had sealed the most important night time of their historical past with a dramatic stoppage time win over Ajax within the semi-finals, an achievement that appeared unattainable with the crew 3-0 down on combination at half time. When Lucas Moura’s shot rippled the online, you sensed it was future that Pochettino would go on to land his first cup – and the most important of all of them.
However it all went up in smoke fairly rapidly as an early Mo Salah penalty took the wind out of their sails within the Madrid showpiece, and regardless of bossing the ball, his nervous stars could not discover a breakthrough and have been completed off by Divock Origi.
His most agonising day got here within the 2019 Champions League closing as they misplaced 2-0 to Liverpool
His tenure began to go downhill quickly after and he was sacked by Spurs in November 2019
Pochettino’s expression after the full-time whistle was an image of frustration – and it turned out to be the second that really completed him off. Nothing was the identical since that night time – not with him or his gamers as Spurs started to sink into mid-table the next season.
Studies started circulating that he started watching coaching classes from indoors earlier than in the end being sacked in November. The loss in Madrid was one disappointment too many and the ultimate straw in his endurance as many accused him of merely not eager to be on the membership anymore.
So was it Pochettino or Tottenham? Some imagine the Argentine’s relentless high-pressing techniques took their toll on his gamers late on within the season, and have been too simple to bypass in a giant recreation.
At PSG, Pochettino could have the personnel he must safe victory on the massive event
At PSG he’s anticipated to not solely win – however win huge too. The Parisiens are used to taking dwelling a lot of the home trophies, so Pochettino will not earn any particular reward if he brings this one dwelling. However given the absence of any honours on his CV, it will imply the world to him.
Marseille have not had the brightest of begins to the Ligue 1 season, at present sitting in sixth place after only one win their final 5 – however nonetheless pose an enormous risk with stars like Dimitri Payet and Florian Thauvin.
In the meantime, Pochettino will likely be boosted to have Neymar again in coaching and will have him obtainable for choice.
Pochettino is already up and operating along with his first win – overseeing a 3-0 win over Brest – however he’ll have loads of adapting to do.
At Spurs his philosophy was enjoying a younger crew of gamers with potential. Right here, he has a crew of superstars able to ship for him. Maybe this crew will lastly assist him ship too.
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