Ledley King has said that it is “vitally important” that Tottenham keep hold of manager Mauricio Pochettino for next season.
The Argentine has led Spurs to the Champions League final in Madrid in dramatic fashion, but has threatened to leave even if the club win European football’s elite prize.
According to King, however, this could be the first of many exciting seasons for Spurs in which they push for silverware and the club must do all they can to keep hold of Pochettino.
“He’s vitally important and he’s taken the club to great levels in such a short space of time,” the former Spurs man told Sky Sports News [Saturday, 22:46].
“It’s always important to keep looking forward and to keep wanting to improve. I’m sure that’s what the manager wants to do, compete for Champions Leagues and Premier League titles.
“Everything is in place for the club to kick on and play at the highest level. The new stadium has already made a difference to the team and the performances.
“Being in the Champions League final, competing for Premier Leagues is what the team want to be doing each season and I’m sure under Pochettino, with his determination and his drive we can do that.”
OPINION
King is exactly right; Spurs must do all they can to keep hold of Pochettino. While his progress has been slow at Tottenham and he is yet to win a trophy with the club, he has revitalised the team and is the perfect man to take the North Londoners forward. Pochettino has warned that achieving Champions League glory in such dramatic fashion as he could do this season – overcoming Manchester City and Ajax in thrilling knockout ties – will not be repeated, and there is no ‘next step’ for Spurs after that. He may have a point, since City and Liverpool are only going to get stronger and there is a big gap between the top two and the rest in the Premier League, but there is no reason to suggest that domestic success in the FA Cup and League Cup – as well as in the Champions League again – should not be on his mind.