‘Not in a fearful way’ – Ryan Mason explains what Pochettino was really like as a manager

In an appearance on the High Performance Podcast, Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason has explained what it was like to be a player working with former boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Before becoming a coach at Tottenham – and even having his own spell as manager – Mason was a product of the North London club’s academy and developed all the way to the first team.

He made 70 appearances for Spurs (Transfermarkt) before moving on to Hull in 2016.

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Mason would ultimately be forced to retire from playing football in 2018 due to a serious head injury during a game between Hull and Chelsea which left him with a fractured skull.

During his time at Spurs, Mason played under Pochettino. It has been suggested that the Argentine manager could return to the club at the end of the season (Sky Sports) if Antonio Conte does not extend his stay beyond his current contract.

Reflecting on his time working with Pochettino in the past, mason was asked to describe the kind of qualities the manager brought to the club and the squad at Tottenham.

He said: “Trust and belief.

“The trust he could play me in the biggest games of the season. The belief I could do it.

“It gave me the sense of, I can’t let him down. Not in a fearful way, but in that I’ll do anything to prove he was right.”

Spurs Web Opinion

We all know how much of a positive impact Pochettino had on the players during his time with Spurs.

It was clear to see on the pitch and it’s more than evident when you hear players speak about their experiences during the Argentine’s reign.

I’m not sure bringing Pochettino back would be a good idea, though. As much as I enjoyed his previous spell with us, I just don’t like the idea of going backwards.

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