Mauricio Pochettino has spoken tongue in cheek about his conversations with Daniel Levy joking that the Tottenham Hotspur chairman is “concerned” and “worried” about losing him as manager.
The Argentine has been repeatedly linked with a switch to Real Madrid or Manchester United and qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League following the 1-1 draw in Barcelona on Tuesday has only increased speculation.
Now relaxed Pochettino, who signed a new five-year contract in May, has addressed the matter insisting his chairman has nothing to worry about even though he told how that prospect was making Levy “jealous.”
Join Indpendent Minds
For exclusive articles, events and an advertising-free read for just
£5.99
€6.99
$9.99
a month
Get the best of The Independent
With an Independent Minds subscription for just
£5.99
€6.99
$9.99
a month
“Daniel does not laugh,” he said. “I know it gets boring but he maybe is worried, he is concerned. It is normal. It is not nice for Daniel to hear all that history of course.
“Do I have to reassure him? No. It is like in football when the sporting director or president says ‘no, the manager is going to be here and we trust in him’ and next game OUT. If you reassure something it is because you are thinking different things.
1/23 “You are the liar. You owe me an apology. You stole a point from me. You’re a thief too.”
Serena Williams’ row with umpire Carlos Ramos has caused widespread debate since the US Open final
Reuters
2/23 “I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life. I’m absolutely gutted.”
Australia captain Steve Smith choked back the tears as he apologised for the ball-tampering scandal.
Getty
3/23 “It was like wrestling.”
Sergio Ramos’ half nelson on Mo Salah in the Champions League final was not to Jurgen Klopp’s taste.
REUTERS
4/23 “I am only missing Firmino saying he got a cold because a drop of my sweat landed on him,”
Sergio Ramos revelled in his role in Real Madrid’s win.
Getty
5/23 “It’s a bit of a hellhole…I’ve just done an interview and all I can smell is urine.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be warned about his repeated outbursts by Barry Hearn
PA
6/23 “If somebody has done that they need to see a doctor. Seemingly he says it was me – but I would admit it.”
Gary Anderson after ‘fartgate’ caused a stink at the darts.
Getty Images
7/23 “It’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve done.”
England cricket captain Joe Root regretted his ‘mic drop’ celebration after a century against India.
Getty Images
8/23 “I always dreamed of holding this trophy when I was a young boy.”
Novak Djokovic after winning Wimbledon.
PA
9/23 “It’s coming home…”
Just about everyone, everywhere, from Kaliningrad to Croydon Boxpark.
EPA
10/23 “People were talking, English journalists, pundits from television. They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake.”
Luka Modric after Croatia ensured it didn’t, in fact, come home.
Getty
11/23 “At the moment we all feel the pain of the defeat. The dressing room is a very difficult place at the moment.”
England boss Gareth Southgate after the semi-final loss.
PA
12/23 “It’s going to go on a part that only (my girlfriend) Grace will see.”
European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn made just one bad decision all week – pledging to get a tattoo of the score if they won.
Getty
13/23 “The issue’s obviously with Jordan (Spieth) not wanting to play with me.”
Patrick Reed reveals a clash of egos in the American Ryder Cup team.
Getty Images
14/23 “I’ve won more titles alone than the rest of the managers in this league combined.”
Jose Mourinho had presumably been sitting on this gem until Arsene Wenger left Arsenal.
Man Utd via Getty Images
15/23 “I just showed the world tonight, and everyone else suffering from mental health, that you can come back and it can be done.”
Tyson Fury speaks from the heart after drawing against Deontay Wilder in a WBC title fight
PA
16/23 “It is like a cow that every day in 10 years, sees the train cross in front at the same time. If you ask the cow, ‘what time is the train going to come’, it is not going to know the right answer.”
Mauricio Pochettino getting in the moo-d for Europe.
Reuters
17/23 “Give them all the help they need because clearly they cost us two points today. It’s a joke.”
Charlie Austin launched an impassioned plea for VAR after Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
BBC
18/23 “Do you know how to twerk?”
Ballon D’or winner Ada Hegerberg declined the offer of a dance from French DJ Martin Solveig.
AFP/Getty
19/23 The support from the – Welsh, British flags and … it’s unreal. It’s the Tour de France. To ride around wearing this [yellow jersey] is a dream.”
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas soaks in the occasion after his victory parade in Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
20/23 “Tonight, I will leave this beautiful country, and I am looking forward to seeing my dogs, Roscoe and Coco, who live in LA. The unconditional love of a pet is something quite special.”
Lewis Hamilton’s plans to celebrate his fifth World Championship were more low-key than expected.
Getty
21/23 “To go out on your own terms, with your last ever innings for England a hundred. From a purely selfish point of view, I couldn’t have asked for a better week.”
Alastair Cook finished his England Test career as he started it, with a century.
Getty Images
22/23 “Have you ever taken those pills, the laxatives. I’m going to go through this man.”
Dillian Whyte was left bemused by Dereck Chisora’s promise
Twitter/@SkySportsBoxing
23/23 “It’s quite raw at the moment, we’ve got to get back home and reflect on where we go as a side.”
England captain Heather Knight could not hide her disappointment at England’s eight-wicket loss against Australia in the T20 final.
AFP/Getty Images
1/23 “You are the liar. You owe me an apology. You stole a point from me. You’re a thief too.”
Serena Williams’ row with umpire Carlos Ramos has caused widespread debate since the US Open final
Reuters
2/23 “I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life. I’m absolutely gutted.”
Australia captain Steve Smith choked back the tears as he apologised for the ball-tampering scandal.
Getty
3/23 “It was like wrestling.”
Sergio Ramos’ half nelson on Mo Salah in the Champions League final was not to Jurgen Klopp’s taste.
REUTERS
4/23 “I am only missing Firmino saying he got a cold because a drop of my sweat landed on him,”
Sergio Ramos revelled in his role in Real Madrid’s win.
Getty
5/23 “It’s a bit of a hellhole…I’ve just done an interview and all I can smell is urine.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be warned about his repeated outbursts by Barry Hearn
PA
6/23 “If somebody has done that they need to see a doctor. Seemingly he says it was me – but I would admit it.”
Gary Anderson after ‘fartgate’ caused a stink at the darts.
Getty Images
7/23 “It’s the most embarrassing thing I’ve done.”
England cricket captain Joe Root regretted his ‘mic drop’ celebration after a century against India.
Getty Images
8/23 “I always dreamed of holding this trophy when I was a young boy.”
Novak Djokovic after winning Wimbledon.
PA
9/23 “It’s coming home…”
Just about everyone, everywhere, from Kaliningrad to Croydon Boxpark.
EPA
10/23 “People were talking, English journalists, pundits from television. They underestimated Croatia tonight and that was a huge mistake.”
Luka Modric after Croatia ensured it didn’t, in fact, come home.
Getty
11/23 “At the moment we all feel the pain of the defeat. The dressing room is a very difficult place at the moment.”
England boss Gareth Southgate after the semi-final loss.
PA
12/23 “It’s going to go on a part that only (my girlfriend) Grace will see.”
European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn made just one bad decision all week – pledging to get a tattoo of the score if they won.
Getty
13/23 “The issue’s obviously with Jordan (Spieth) not wanting to play with me.”
Patrick Reed reveals a clash of egos in the American Ryder Cup team.
Getty Images
14/23 “I’ve won more titles alone than the rest of the managers in this league combined.”
Jose Mourinho had presumably been sitting on this gem until Arsene Wenger left Arsenal.
Man Utd via Getty Images
15/23 “I just showed the world tonight, and everyone else suffering from mental health, that you can come back and it can be done.”
Tyson Fury speaks from the heart after drawing against Deontay Wilder in a WBC title fight
PA
16/23 “It is like a cow that every day in 10 years, sees the train cross in front at the same time. If you ask the cow, ‘what time is the train going to come’, it is not going to know the right answer.”
Mauricio Pochettino getting in the moo-d for Europe.
Reuters
17/23 “Give them all the help they need because clearly they cost us two points today. It’s a joke.”
Charlie Austin launched an impassioned plea for VAR after Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Watford.
BBC
18/23 “Do you know how to twerk?”
Ballon D’or winner Ada Hegerberg declined the offer of a dance from French DJ Martin Solveig.
AFP/Getty
19/23 The support from the – Welsh, British flags and … it’s unreal. It’s the Tour de France. To ride around wearing this [yellow jersey] is a dream.”
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas soaks in the occasion after his victory parade in Paris.
AFP/Getty Images
20/23 “Tonight, I will leave this beautiful country, and I am looking forward to seeing my dogs, Roscoe and Coco, who live in LA. The unconditional love of a pet is something quite special.”
Lewis Hamilton’s plans to celebrate his fifth World Championship were more low-key than expected.
Getty
21/23 “To go out on your own terms, with your last ever innings for England a hundred. From a purely selfish point of view, I couldn’t have asked for a better week.”
Alastair Cook finished his England Test career as he started it, with a century.
Getty Images
22/23 “Have you ever taken those pills, the laxatives. I’m going to go through this man.”
Dillian Whyte was left bemused by Dereck Chisora’s promise
Twitter/@SkySportsBoxing
23/23 “It’s quite raw at the moment, we’ve got to get back home and reflect on where we go as a side.”
England captain Heather Knight could not hide her disappointment at England’s eight-wicket loss against Australia in the T20 final.
AFP/Getty Images
“He is a worry man because he is jealous about me! It’s normal, no, because of the rumours.”
Pochettino’s mood reflected the spirits at Tottenham following the successful trip to the Nou Camp in a season hindered by continued delays to the new White Hart Lane.
Levy is bearing the brunt of supporter criticism but Pochettino has told of his tireless work to bring a swift conclusion to the return home.
“The chairman is suffering a lot,” he said. “He is so tired about work. The last few months he didn’t sleep because he is trying to deliver the stadium.
“He is trying to make everyone happy but it’s a massive project. I think people don’t realise the magnitude of the project and how difficult it is to manage everything.
“Everyone is disappointed because we are still not playing there but the day we move everyone is going to realise how massive the project was and how good the facilities are.
“It doesn’t just depend on him. When you build something, you depend on many companies. I think it’s more than 20 that are working there. It’s so, so difficult.
“That is why I think he needs to feel the love from the fans and the club. He is working so hard. Too hard, to leave a legacy forever. And I think that’s fantastic.
“When you compare the new stadium to other stadiums, we are going to be so lucky to play there.”
Levy has a reputation for being a difficult character but Pochettino has defended him and believes that he has a big heart.
“After four and a half years we have shared a lot of different moments,” he said. “He is not an easy man. But he is so passionate to create some things for the fans and the staff and the players.
“It is not for him. One example – he built the hotel here. The Lodge. It’s a five-star boutique hotel. I asked him when he is going to sleep there and he said: ‘No, no, no. Not for me. That is for you and the players.’
1/10 Felipe Anderson
Opponent: Fulham (A)
Price: £7.3m
Ownership: 16.6%
Getty
2/10 Heung-Min Son
Opponent: Burnley (H)
Price: £8.5m
Ownership: 6.5%
Getty
3/10 Javier Hernandez
Opponent: Fulham (A)
Price: £6.4m
Ownership: 5.5%
Getty
4/10 Sead Kolasinac
Opponent: Southampton (A)
Price: £5.0m
Ownership: 3.3%
Getty
5/10 Diogo Jota
Opponent: Bournemouth (H)
Price: £5.9m
Ownership: 1.0%
6/10 Ben Foster
Opponent: Cardiff City (H)
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 4.0%
Getty Images
7/10 Christopher Schindler
Opponent: Newcastle United (H)
Price: £4.4m
Ownership: 3.3%
Getty
8/10 Robert Snodgrass
Opponent: Fulham (A)
Price: £5.3m
Ownership: 1.1%
Getty
9/10 Roberto Pereyra
Opponent: Cardiff City (H)
Price: £6.2m
Ownership: 1.1%
Getty
10/10 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Opponent: Southampton (A)
Price: £11.5m
Ownership: 36.3%
Getty
1/10 Felipe Anderson
Opponent: Fulham (A)
Price: £7.3m
Ownership: 16.6%
Getty
2/10 Heung-Min Son
Opponent: Burnley (H)
Price: £8.5m
Ownership: 6.5%
Getty
3/10 Javier Hernandez
Opponent: Fulham (A)
Price: £6.4m
Ownership: 5.5%
Getty
4/10 Sead Kolasinac
Opponent: Southampton (A)
Price: £5.0m
Ownership: 3.3%
Getty
5/10 Diogo Jota
Opponent: Bournemouth (H)
Price: £5.9m
Ownership: 1.0%
6/10 Ben Foster
Opponent: Cardiff City (H)
Price: £4.5m
Ownership: 4.0%
Getty Images
7/10 Christopher Schindler
Opponent: Newcastle United (H)
Price: £4.4m
Ownership: 3.3%
Getty
8/10 Robert Snodgrass
Opponent: Fulham (A)
Price: £5.3m
Ownership: 1.1%
Getty
9/10 Roberto Pereyra
Opponent: Cardiff City (H)
Price: £6.2m
Ownership: 1.1%
Getty
10/10 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Opponent: Southampton (A)
Price: £11.5m
Ownership: 36.3%
Getty
“He is always thinking to do things for other people. And of course, for the fans. That is a fantastic thing but the people sometimes struggle to understand.
“The team wins and the praise is for the players, the coaching staff or the manager. When lose, the first is him that the people blame – sometimes deserved! Sometimes, no. I think he deserves a fantastic recognition because what he’s doing, him and the board, is a fantastic thing for the club and it’s going to be there forever.”
