Simon Jordan admits he would take Mauricio Pochettino to Crystal Palace ‘every day of the week’ but doesn’t think the former Tottenham Hotspur boss can have a Premier League top-six job these days, speaking to talkSPORT.
It seems the days of Pochettino being first on anyone’s lips when the subject of a new head coach at Real Madrid, Manchester United or Barcelona came up are over.
The 50-year-old Argentine was overlooked by United before Erik ten Hag’s appointment last summer.
And although he won three titles at Paris Saint-Germain – finally ending his wait for a major trophy – Pochettino arguably left the Parc des Princes in a weaker position than he arrived there, struggling to put his stamp on a very talented and extremely expensive team.
One who was largely disappointed in his two years at the helm. Especially finishing second behind Lille in 2020/21.
Which clubs would sign ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino these days?
“I would be included to believe he will land somewhere at an important club. Now what important club means is open to interpretation,” says Jordan, the former owner of Crystal Palace.
“I never thought of him as an elite manager. Undeniably, he’s a very good administrator. Undeniably.
“That outrage (when he took over from Nigel Adkins at Southampton) turned into delight. He had a very good generation of Tottenham players compete at a very high level for a time, and I think he stole defeat from the jaws of victory with a loss in a Champions League final in which they failed to show up.
According to The Standard, Pochettino refused to replace Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa in October. Rather, he is holding out for a position at the Champions League level. Jordan, however, believes a manager who had a great time at Spurs ended in frustration and disappointment. He may have to come up from the bottom of the ladder.
“I think elite is a term that comes up too often. There can only be a few who are part of the elite. And I don’t think he falls into that category,” adds Jordan, calling Pochettino “exceptional” rather than truly world class.
“I don’t think he’ll land a ‘top six’ job. He did a very good job at Tottenham with a very good group of players. I think he’s a rung below Klopp, Conte and of course Pep Guardiola.
“I would have him at Crystal Palace every day of the week. But I wouldn’t have it at Manchester United or Liverpool.
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