Paulo Fonseca, who was strongly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, has now revealed that the move was derailed by Fabio Paratici.
When the former Roma coach entered into discussions with Spurs, he was dealing with Daniel Levy and Steve Hitchen.
Fonseca recalled that both men asked for him to build a team that could play attacking, attractive and offensive football, in stark contrast to what was seen under Jose Mourinho.
However, things changed when Fabio Paratici made the move from Juventus to North London, signing on as Tottenham’s new managing director of football.
Fonseca revealed that the agreement with Spurs was done and he was already planning pre-season when Paratici arrived and he did not agree with some of his ideas.
The Portuguese coach also talked about his attacking principles as a manager, while hinting that Paratici was not on board with such tactics.
He said (Telegraph): “The agreement was done. We were planning the pre-season and Tottenham wanted an offensive coach.
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“It wasn’t announced but we planned pre-season players. But things changed when the new managing director arrived and we didn’t agree with some ideas and he preferred another coach.
“I have some principles. I wanted to be coach of the great teams but I want the right project and a club where the people believe in my ideas, my way to play, and this didn’t happen with the managing director.
“It’s what the chairman and the sporting director (Steve Hitchen) asked for. To build a team who can play attractive and offensive football and I was ready for that.
“I cannot be a different way. All my teams will have these intentions. In Rome or Shakhtar in the Champions League against the biggest teams, I’m not sending out my teams to defend near their own box.”
He added: “All players want to have the ball. They want to dominate. They want to participate. They don’t want to run to recover the ball. They don’t want to run without the ball and defend. The best way to defend is to have the ball.
“We have an obligation with supporters to create a spectacle, a good show. That is the obligation of the coach. I want to win every game but just winning is not enough for me.
“I have to be offensive and dominate the games and have an offensive midfield and show courage in the game. These are things which will die with me.
“It happened so many times when I got home after winning a game and my wife asked ‘why are you unhappy?’ And it is because I didn’t win the way I wanted to. It is not enough.
“I have to create a good show for the people who pay the tickets and love football. At least I try. I cannot be a coach in another way.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
To be honest, while I would love attacking and fluid football, it feels as if Fonseca may have been too far the other day. Less attacking genius and more sticking the team on ‘all-out attack’ on FIFA. A happy middle ground would have been nice, but perhaps Nuno can deliver that.
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