sport news Tottenham fans want Mauricio Pochettino back... but it could be another mistake trends now
Twenty minutes to midnight and a crowd of weary Tottenham supporters growing in number as they wait for the Victoria Line platforms to reopen at Seven Sisters started to sing about Mauricio Pochettino.
'He's magic you know', the song goes, and that would help, but is he, really?
Pochettino could not conjure a trophy in five full seasons at Spurs, and ultimately became exasperated by the same limitations Antonio Conte was grumbling about as they slithered feebly out of the Champions League, on Wednesday, unable to score a goal in two games against Milan.
Just as they were unable to score a goal in two games against Leipzig, the last time they were at this stage of the same competition, under Jose Mourinho, three years ago.
Rumblings of disquiet echoed around the stadium and emerged from the dressing room, with Richarlison voicing his disappointment not to have started against Milan.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have called for the return of former manager Mauricio Pochettino
Spurs limped out of the Champions League with a 0-0 draw against AC Milan on Wednesday
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy (left) watched on from the stands as under-fire boss Antonio Conte could do little to inspire his side to success in the last-16 tie
'I'm really sorry for the fans but we cannot invent the win,' said Conte afterwards. 'It's important to know this and not hope for a miracle that one day a trophy comes to us.'
There is no magic wand. 'Time and patience' has become Conte's catchphrase ever since he came to realise what it is to manage Tottenham, considered among the Premier League's elite but with only two League Cup wins to show for all the money spent and all the hope generated over the last 32 years.
They may have the best stadium with Beyonce, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and go-karting on the way. But they trail a distant sixth of the big six. Quite possibly soon to be overtaken by Newcastle. And with Harry Kane edging into the final year of his contract, looking to move on.
The outlook is not particularly rosy which might be why supporters sing for Pochettino because they can remember when they were failing to win anything under him at least the football was decent to watch.
It has not been so this season under Conte, who has sought to cover up deficiencies in the squad by tightening up at the back and trusting Kane and Son Heung-min to find some goals on the break.
Sections of Tottenham fans have long wanted the return of Pochettino since his 2019 exit
Pedro Porro shares a discussion with Conte on the touchline amid coming on as a substitute
Frustrated striker Richarlison aired his dissatisfaction post-match due to his lack of game time
Clearly, his players do not enjoy this restricted style but, whenever he has tried to loosen the shackles and be more adventurous, they have been too fragile in defence. They lack strength at the back and to protect them in midfield costs them creativity, especially without Rodrigo Bentancur.
This would have been on his mind
