The recent draw between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur seemed to pose more questions than it did answers for both clubs but more were posed for Spurs.
English Premier League fans have watched and wondered what is going on with a club that has risen to be a fixture in the top four of England and reached last season’s Champions League final under manager Mauricio Pochettino. Despite the success, tensions have been high throughout the newly-opened Tottenham Stadium with Pochettino rumored to be quitting the North London club the day after the North London Derby.
Looking at the way Tottenham set themselves up for the North London derby, one would have to question whether Pochettino actually wanted to bring in any of the signings Spurs fans welcomed as the best transfer window in the club’s recent history. The team that took the field against Arsenal was almost exactly the team that has led the club to its most successful period in the Premier League.
Pochettino seems reliant on the players he knows and trusts, including left-back Danny Rose who was told he could leave the club in the summer if a bid was received for him. Rose was even excused from a pre-season tour to try and find a new club. Despite this, he has been an ever-present this season and seems to retain the trust of Pochettino as his first choice in the position.
Pochettino has made light of the problems he has recently had with officials at Tottenham Hotspur, including a recent clear the air dinner date with the club’s chairman. Any fan of the club will know Pochettino and Levy have usually shared a solid and friendly relationship with the coach detailing business trips to Argentina alongside Levy and other executives along with his coaching staff.
The recent rumors of Pochettino threatening to walk away from Spurs following the North London derby was a sign that even fans of the club were aware of the tension that seems to have consumed Tottenham Hotspur recently. Speaking on Sky Sports, Jose Mourinho pointed to the unhappiness and upset regarding the futures of many of the top players at the club as the reason for recent tensions. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach stated the unhappiness of a single player could rip through a squad and bring bitterness to the way an entire club feels.
Tottenham seems to be pinning the majority of their hopes on the European transfer window passing by and playmaker Christian Eriksen remaining at the club. However, with the Danish international’s contract set to expire in the Summer, more speculation is bound to surround one of the world’s top midfielders as he prepares for a future away from London.
Pochettino believes the draw against Arsenal following quickly on the heels of a similar English Premier League result against Manchester City will bring his squad together once more. The talk of Pochettino leaving the Premier League for a return to La Liga seems to be growing and comes after he questioned his own future prior to the Champion’s League final against rivals Liverpool.
0