Opinion: Pochettino burns the bridge between him and the fanbase who adored him

I write this having sat through Mauricio Pochettino’s first interview for Chelsea, where he has dubbed the team as THE ‘Greatest team in England’, when he so easily could have just said ‘one of’.

Pochettino. The man whose name we chanted towards the end of last season amid rumours of his return. The man who brought us Champions League football back to White Hart Lane and the man who led us to the Champions League Final.

What a way to completely distance himself from the entire Spurs fanbase…

His decision to join Chelsea after his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur has undoubtedly left many Spurs fans feeling betrayed and disheartened.

While some may argue that Pochettino’s move is a professional choice and that it’s Daniel Levy’s fault for not approaching him in the first place, it is essential to examine why his decision was wrong and the implications it has on his legacy.

Throughout his time at Tottenham, Pochettino earned the loyalty and respect of the fans, players, and the club itself. He transformed the team into genuine title contenders, instilling a sense of unity and purpose.

He even said in an interview a few years back that he would love to return and win a title with Tottenham (BTSport), but that bridge has well and truly been burnt. By jumping ship to a direct rival, he has violated that loyalty, leaving behind a legacy tarnished with feelings of betrayal.

This raises questions about his character and loyalty, leaving me to wonder if his commitment to any club is genuine or merely transactional.

While Pochettino may have made a professional decision to join Chelsea, it is evident that his choice was wrong. The move contradicts the loyalty and passion he inspired at Tottenham Hotspur, and disregards the significance of the rivalry.

I mean, he was our manager at the time of ‘Battle of the Bridge’! He even claimed at one stage that Chelsea were Tottenham’s biggest rivals, not Arsenal! (Sun).

(Photo by Visionhaus)

I look forward to seeing him back at our ground on November 4th, which I’m sure will be a feisty game both on and off the pitch – as it often is vs Chelsea, but even more so now.

Tempted to order 100 plastic snakes to throw onto the pitch.

I await a beautiful Ange Postecoglou masterclass and hope to see some charismatic and free-flowing, attacking football on show.

Ultimately, Pochettino’s decision to join Chelsea betrays the trust and adoration bestowed upon him, leaving a lasting stain on his legacy among Tottenham fans.

Seeing him in Chelsea attire gives me some kind of grim closure to a story I thought wasn’t quite over.