Tottenham must match Mauricio Pochettino's ambition or risk losing him, warns Jamie Carragher

Main man | Jamie Carragher says Tottenham must match Mauricio Pochettino's ambition
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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_23 November 2018

Jamie Carragher has warned Tottenham they must match the ambition of one of their most ‘valuable assets’, Mauricio Pochettino, or risk losing him to a bigger club.

Tottenham became the first club in Premier League history to go a summer transfer window without signing a player ahead of this season, after Pochettino had ended the previous campaign calling on chairman Daniel Levy to ‘be brave and take risks’.

Against all odds, with injuries to key players and tedious delays to their new stadium, Pochettino has kept Tottenham largely on course this season, currently fourth and just a point behind London rivals Chelsea, who they face at Wembley this weekend.

After a summer without investment, Carragher has questioned whether Pochettino will begin to lose love for the project in north London if he does not get sufficient backing.

“There will come a time, most likely in the near future, when Mauricio Pochettino faces the biggest dilemma of his management career,” he wrote in his Telegraph column.

“Should he remain committed to the long-term plan he signed up to at Tottenham, working under the model of progressive growth that has worked so well for Daniel Levy?

“Or is the moment close when Pochettino listens to those reminding him he is one of the most sought after coaches, guaranteed to be on the shortlist whenever the next big job in European football comes along?

“He must be attracted to those clubs where the evolution process is quickened with more transfer market statements of intent.

“His commitment to Spurs is not currently in doubt.”

Carragher continued: “There comes a point when an in-demand manager, just like a top player, will ask if their career is moving forward at the pace they want and need.

“For that reason, this season feels like a pivotal one for Pochettino at Spurs – a campaign where the club has to start satisfying the ambitions of it most valuable assets.

“It was never going to happen at Spurs at the same pace as wealthier rivals like Chelsea and Manchester City, but given where those occupying the four positions were three years ago, Pochettino is entitled to ask privately if Spurs have really done everything within their means to give themselves the best chance of success.

“This era is in danger of becoming one of missed opportunity given the chance Spurs had to stride on when they ran Leicester City close two years ago and finished runners-up to Chelsea in 2017.”

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Pochettino has, time and again, been linked with the Real Madrid job but Carragher feels there may be one closer to Tottenham which would tempt him even more.

“If Manchester United do not finish in the top four this season there is every chance Jose Mourinho’s tenure will end. If so, Pochettino must be top of the wanted list.

“When a vacancy next arises, what happens at Spurs between now and then will determine if the timing feels right.”

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