Jose Mourinho is set for Manchester United - but Mauricio Pochettino wouldn't want it anyway

With the landscape of the Premier League changing, the Spurs boss is committed to ensuring they are major players in the new order, writes Darren Lewis

Reuters / Toby Melville

United front: Pochettino is staying at Spurs - whether United want him or not

Even IF Jose Mourinho didn't already have it wrapped up, Manchester United would struggle to tempt Mauricio Pochettino away from Spurs.

The Reds’ interest has been spoken of in a way that suggests they would be able to pluck him away from the north Londoners with the minimum of fuss.

Anyone thinking along those lines has not been listening to the Argentine very carefully.

Pochettino is a man who likes control over his dressing room. He wants players with hunger and a project (yes, that word again, sorry) that he can build from the bottom up.



With Pep Guardiola joining their big rivals in the summer, United don't appear too worried about the foundations just as long as they can bring in superstar players with a wow factor.

Pochettino is content to be the tortoise to that particular hare. He is busy maintaining that pathway for the young players to break into the first team squad to give the Tottenham team an identity.

He has disciples currently running through brick walls in their bid to land not only the Premier League title but the FA Cup and the Europa League too.

Last week, in a fascinating press conference, he talked about the Newell’s Old Boys team with which he became a double Argentine champion as a high-class teenage central defender 25 years ago.

Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge

Spurred on: Pochettino is building something at Tottenham

Pochettino spoke of the balance in that side, the young players with just a smattering of seniors. The older players who, after initial cynicism pledged their loyalty to then-coach Marcelo Bielsa “with our eyes closed”.

Pochettino has that at Spurs where the side with the youngest average age in the Premier League has the best defence, the best goal difference and could end the weekend just two points off leaders Leicester if things go their way.
Contrast that with the almost obsessive pursuit of the superstar names by United chief executive Ed Woodward: Neymar, Gareth Bale, Thomas Mueller, Pedro, Sergio Ramos and so on.

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Pochettino has made it clear on several occasion that he prefer to build a team and to work with players with something to prove.
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He and his assistant Jesus Perez have worked hard to create the balance and the spirit in the squad now fuelling their trophy charge.

He has defied the widely-held view that they need more experience or another striker.

So the riches on offer at Old Trafford wouldn’t necessarily concern him. Pochettino could have landed Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama last month with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy basically waiting for him to say the word.
He chose not to, happy with what he has.



Had he demanded the club go in hard for Saido Berahino they would probably have done so. Again, he chose not to.
Compare that with Louis van Gaal, complaining about the young players at United who “lack consistency” and the so-called deficiencies within his squad despite spending £250million.

That is music to the ears of Woodward who was convinced, even before the confirmation of the Guardiola news, that the way to go for United was in pursuit of the Galactico.
That's why Pochettino will stay at Spurs. Not for him the stellar players on big contracts whom he would suggest have lost their appetite.

The Argentine is excited an enthused by the side with which is defying the doubters. The team that has had everyone sitting up and taking notice, not only of their abilities but his too.
With the landscape of the Premier League changing, the Spurs boss is committed to ensuring the north Londoners are major players in the new order.
He'll stay for sure.