In what could be a series of interesting events, former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri is interested in becoming Tottenham manager if Mauricio Pochettino decides to leave his role in North London.
According to a report by The Sun, Pochettino is considering quitting Tottenham after an inconsistent start to the season and apparent problems within his squad.
With a number of unsettled players under his control, and some concerning results, including being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Colchester on Tuesday night, Pochettino’s future has been called into question.
The Sun reports that Allegri would be very interested in the role should it become available, as he is currently out of work, taking a break from football after leaving Juventus at the end of last season.
The 52-year-old Italian manager is currently weighing up his next challenge and has considered Tottenham a good option for him to get back to coaching action.
Allegri won five Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia’s and finished runner-up on two occasions in the Champions League during his five-year spell at Juventus.
According to the same source, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers also has his admirers at Tottenham if Pochettino did decide to end his tenure after joining from Southampton in 2014.
Things have been so bad at Spurs they have not claimed an away win since the Champions League semi-final at Ajax in May (via Whoscored).
Pochettino blamed the problems on an unsettled pre-season and spoke of ‘different agendas’ as he called for clear minds and ‘togetherness’ as he searched for a solution ahead of the Southampton game.
‘We need time again to build that togetherness that you need when you are competing at this level,’ said Pochettino.
‘When you have an unsettled squad always it’s difficult and you lose time, then you need time to recover the time you lose. Pochettino was quoted saying by Metro.
‘That’s where we are. Maybe our performances are good but you need this extra, which is mental, connection. It’s energy to be all together, not to have different agendas in the squad.
‘We are in a period where it’s a bit tough for us, but we keep working to find a solution. ‘When this type of thing happens it’s about staying clear and fresh and calm. We’re trying to find solutions and we only need time.”
In all honesty, the Tottenham players have not been at their best as well, but such is the state of football that the managers ultimately get the blame for any shortcomings? Will a move for Allegri to take charge at the North London side be a positive step in the right direction?
Verdict
Allegri is a good option on paper and only a few names are better than the Italian when it comes to good credentials. However, Spurs will have to be careful as he potentially brings two sides to his story – should he get appointed.
Spurs have some world-class players in their squad but they also do not have silverware. Which is the one simple fact that has cast a cloud of debate over their “big-club status” in recent years.
With many of their best players heading into their prime, they seem to have lost the motivation. A new manager might be just the push they need, even if it is for the immediate future.
And with Allegri boasting a good track record of winning, that winning mentality is exactly what is needed by the Spurs players to get a reset in their ambitions and aspirations. A manager who has never won a trophy surely can not motivate players to win as he hasn’t even done it himself and can’t relate to the feeling. Allegri does know how to win and he could yet lead Tottenham a League triumph, which last came 38 years ago.
Despite Allegri’s record, he is a bit of a pragmatist, meaning the football might not be as entertaining as it is under Pochettino.
Allegri is a tactically flexible coach, who likes to chop and change formations and systems depending on the game. He’s not necessarily defensive but simply a manager who puts a result above anything else. Good for results and silverware but can be a let-down to fans and the general perception of “Tottenham” as a whole.
Tottenham have been branded for their high energy and entertaining football in recent time and surely they won’t want to lose that status.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the major drive of the club should be to win trophies and this is why regardless of how he does it, Allegri does seem a reasonable option if he is available. Pochettino has been decent so far but he hasn’t delivered the goods and five years has been more than enough time to prove himself.
