OPINION
Danny Murphy and Adrian Durham seem to have conflicting opinions on whether Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is worthy of being named Premier League Manager of the Season.
The Premier League’s official Twitter account revealed on Tuesday that Pochettino alongside Wolves’ Nuno Espirito Santo, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp were the nominees for manager of the season.
Four outstanding campaigns ?
Who gets your vote for @BarclaysFooty Manager of the Season?
?? https://t.co/Wvw9lR9Rme #PLAwards pic.twitter.com/694RSdUb1T
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 7, 2019
Soon after the nominees were announced talkSPORT broadcaster Adrian Durham bordered on being furious about Pochettino being a contender for the award as he shared it was madness as Spurs had lost 13 league games this season.
“Mauricio Pochettino…What? Hang on, they’ve lost 13 games,” said Durham on talkSPORT (17:09, Tuesday May 7th).
“How on earth is Pochettino in there, it’s utterly ridiculous, they’re below Chelsea in Sarri’s first season, Premier League manager of the season Darren (Darren Gough was saying about their Champions League success) Nuno Espirito Santo is there and rightly so.
“I’m astonished how Pochettino is in that list, thirteen defeats, that is mad, beyond believe.
“It’s a media love-in at Spurs.”
Durham is not one to often praise Spurs and his insulting dismissal of Pochettino’s success in the league this season will no doubt have rattled many Spurs fans.
Tottenham’s season may not have been spectacular but when you consider the squad and obstacles Pochettino has overcome to ensure once again Spurs are going to finish in the top-four, his nomination shouldn’t be shocked.
In fact Danny Murphy hits the nail on the head with his response to Pochettino being nominated for the award as he highlights how the Spurs boss has had to cope with playing in a different stadium and working on a shoe-string transfer budget.
“Pochettino shoe-string budget, different stadium, incredible,” said Murphy on Sky Sports’ The Debate (Sky Sports Premier League, Tuesday May 7th, 22:39).
Given that Murphy is spot-on, many Tottenham fans will love his verdict as not only does it give Pochettino the praise he deserves, it will surely silence Durham who seemed mystified by the Spurs boss being recognised.