Levy sent desperate Pochettino plea in call for U-turn on Chelsea job

05 May 2023 , 13:06

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Levy sent desperate Pochettino plea in call for U-turn on Chelsea job

Tottenham legend Ricky Villa has urged the club’s chairman Daniel Levy to move to re-appoint Mauricio Pochettino before he is instilled as Chelsea boss.

Pochettino is tipped to take charge at Chelsea this summer having previously led Spurs to three successive top three league finishes – including second spot in the 2016/17 campaign – alongside guiding Spurs to their first ever Champions League final in 2019, across five years at the club.

Harry Kane had revealed he had an "honest" talk with club chairman Levy following Spurs' recent 6-1 thrashing against Newcastle over the club’s direction. That preceded Ryan Mason becoming the club’s third head coach this season after Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini were axed in consecutive months.

The England captain reminisced about Pochettino’s spell at the club, telling Sky : “I feel like there were some values at that time and some culture that really made us achieve the things we did.”

Kane added: “So maybe we've lost parts of that over the last few years and it's about looking back at that and seeing the good things we can take from that and trying to implement that in the future.”

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Spurs legend Villa, who alongside his compatriot Ossie Ardiles were inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame in 2008, has now spoken of his desire for fellow Argentine Pochettino to return to the club this summer.

Pochettino celebrates with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy after reaching the Champions League final in 2019

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Now aged 70, Villa urged Spurs chairman Levy to reach out to the coach because he believes he would hold out for Tottenham should they make contact. It comes as Pochettino is expected to instead move to Stamford Bridge this summer, where there is also an upcoming managerial vacancy.

“This is a difficult moment for the club,” Villa told talkSPORT. “I cannot speak about what is happening inside the club because I am living in Argentina. The club is very strong and it will recover very soon.

“Mauricio Pochettino, come back! We need Pochettino back managing the team.”

Pochettino has been out of work since leaving PSG last year (Getty Images)

When asked if Pochettino should return to Spurs, Villa added: “Yes, Spurs have not called him and if he has another offer then he has to make a decision. But I think he has a little chance to come back to Spurs again.”

Villa concluded: “I would (tell him to come to Spurs) but it is not my decision. It is the decision of the chairman. But we will find out next week what happens – if he accepts Chelsea or waits for the club (Spurs).”

Colin Millar