Despite facing criticism, Daniel Levy’s decision to not re-hire Mauricio Pochettino as Tottenham manager is justified. Pochettino previously spent five successful years with the club before being sacked in 2019. Despite leading Spurs to their first-ever Champions League final, his poor start to the 2019/20 season resulted in his dismissal.

After an underwhelming tenure at Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino became available when Antonio Conte was sacked in 2023. Many speculated his return to Tottenham would be the perfect appointment, as he is still adored by the fans and aims to end the club’s silverware drought. However, Levy had different reasoning and chose to let Ryan Mason see out the season as interim boss.

Levy’s decision was based on three factors. Firstly, he initially sought to hire a young and upcoming manager, which did not align with Pochettino’s experience. Instead, Levy opted for Ange Postecoglou, who has shown promise in connecting with the fans.

Secondly, Levy believed that looking to the past for solutions rarely works in elite-level sports management. There have been few instances where managers returned to the same club and achieved success twice, influencing Levy’s decision.

Lastly, Levy did not want sentiment to cloud his judgment in making an appointment. While Pochettino’s return would have initially pleased the fans, there was a risk of a sour outcome, wasting valuable time for the club. Instead, Postecoglou was chosen as the new manager.

Pochettino has since joined Tottenham’s capital rivals, Chelsea, further straining his relationship with the North London club. As he returns to face his former team, the reception he receives remains unknown.

Ahead of the match, Postecoglou commended Pochettino for his impact on Tottenham, acknowledging his near success in the Champions League and league. He emphasized the desire of managers to make a significant impact in their roles, recognizing Pochettino’s achievements.