BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson fears that the speculation linking Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino with Manchester United could affect the club’s season.
The Argentine has been quickly installed as the firm favourite to replace Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, and Lawrenson feels the talk around the manager could disrupt Spurs’ campaign.
However, he believes it will be business as usual against Everton on Sunday, predicting a 1-1 draw between the two teams.
“If he is offered the job it will be a big temptation for him and it will be a decision that will keep him up at night. That could affect Spurs’ season too of course,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website.
“Right now, this trip to Merseyside is the only thing Pochettino will be focused on as they look to continue their run of good results since they lost to Arsenal at the start of December. Tottenham’s recent record at Goodison Park is decent – they have not lost in any of their past five visits – but Everton’s home form this season is good and I cannot see them being beaten.”
OPINION
Lawrenson is spot on, here. It won’t be easy for Pochettino and Tottenham to keep ticking along when they know that United will likely make a big push for the manager come the end of the season. The former Southampton boss is the obvious replacement for Mourinho at Old Trafford, and Pochettino will undoubtedly be tempted by the post, so the club must now try their best to keep the ship sailing on course amidst the speculation. That starts with a tough game away at Everton on Sunday, and the Toffees will provide stern opposition. Having said that, Marco Silva’s team have come up short against the Premier League’s leading lights this term, and so Spurs will be confident of tasting victory on Merseyside. It’s eminently possible that the hosts could scratch and claw their way to a point, but the superior quality of Tottenham should see them come out on top here.