‘One of the biggest farces in football’ – Pundit slams Spurs for managerial decision

Noel Whelan has blasted the Tottenham hierarchy for trying to hire Mauricio Pochettino just a year and a half after sacking him.

Pochettino is now one of the favourites to be the next Spurs boss, with the Argentine reported to be the club’s number one target.

While the Argentine is reportedly open to a return to Tottenham, the North Londoners are not going to find it easy to get their man, with Paris Saint-Germain said to be determined to hold on to him.

PSG have activated a clause to extend the 49-year-old’s contract until 2023 and, while that does not rule out the chances of Pochettino leaving, it does mean that Spurs would have to pay high compensation to get their man.

While getting Pochettino out of PSG will be a hard enough challenge, Tottenham also have Real Madrid to potentially contend with, as the La Liga giants also reportedly targeting a move for the former Spurs boss.

While Whelan admitted that he would like to see Pochettino back in the Premier League, he insisted that the Tottenham hierarchy will be admitting to a huge blunder by spending big to get him back just 18 months after sacking him.

The former Leeds striker told Football Insider: “I think if you can get him, he’s a fantastic appointment.

“I also think it’s one of the biggest farces in football. Letting him go when they shouldn’t have let him go and bringing in Jose Mourinho. I just think why did you let him go in the first place?

“It was such a bad decision to get rid of him, one of the best up-and-coming managers. He had the most successful season Tottenham have had for a long, long time taking them to the Champions League final, finishing second one season.

“I mean, what were they thinking anyway? It just seems ridiculous the way they got rid of a really good manager. He was snapped up by one of the biggest clubs in European football in PSG because they knew what a good manager they could have.

“I’m pleased he might be back in English football, absolutely. We benefit and so will Tottenham.”

Spurs Web Opinion

I believe it is a positive sign that Levy and the club hierarchy are willing to acknowledge that they were wrong to sack Pochettino by trying to bring him back to the club. Clubs usually hesitate to rehire a manager soon after sacking him as it would be an admission of their blunder.

We also do not know what went on behind the scenes towards the end of Pochettino’s time at Spurs. From the outside, it did seem like the Argentine had lost the dressing room, thus not leaving Levy with any choice.

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