Pochettino compares time at Tottenham to Netflix political drama

Life in the premier league is fast paced, riddled with controversies and often involves a fair bit of diplomacy. It is therefore not surprising that when Mauricio Pochettino was asked whether his time at the Spurs could be compared the political drama House of Cards, he replied with a coy “It’s similar, eh?”

It’s been an interesting few months for Tottenham, especially with their upcoming stadium and news about Dele Alli’s six-year contract with the club, viewed by many as one of the best bargains in world of competitive football. Coupled with the usual drama that accompanies managing a Premier League club, it is evident why Pochettino made the comparison.

Problems weighing down Tottenham

The 46 year old former Argentinian footballer believes that Tottenham are having a rather weird season, but is hoping to finish in the top four at the end of the league in May. Despite the adversity, the manager seems to have found peace in Netflix’s House of Cards.  “I’ve started the new season of House of Cards. I watched three episodes on Monday. I’ve learned a lot from this series. I recommend it”, said Pochettino.

The club has been weighed down by several issues this season, many of which are associated with shifting back to their renovated home ground located at White Hart Lane. While the original deadline for the completion of the stadium had been specified as August, the club now claims that the stadium will be ready by mid-January. Their present home, at Wembley, looks to be in terrible shape although Pochettino maintains that it has gotten better since the Spurs’ match against Manchester City on 30th October.

Recent performances such as the loss against City and the draw with PSV Eidenhoven, has put Pochettino in a rather tight spot. This is particularly so, because Spurs had created hype around their new stadium through a clever advertising line – “the only place to watch Champions League in London”, which was a jab at Chelsea and Arsenal who did not qualify for the Champions League. Pochettino is aware that in order to keep the club’s Champions League dream alive, they will need to secure a win against both Barcelona and PSV in their upcoming fixtures.

Even so, he empathises with the disappointment faced by the club’s fans since Tottenham won’t be able to play their Champions League matches at their new ground. The manager went on to clarify that the delays were completely unforeseeable, and the problems were beyond the club’s control.

Mounting injuries

Tottenham’s squad has been put through a vigorous run of matches in recent days, and the fixture against Eidenhoven will be their fourth match in a span of just ten days. Coupled with the players’ grueling schedule, the club faces a crisis in terms of injured players. The problem is particularly severe for the midfield lineup where Wanyama, Dier and Dembele are out with injuries. The coming weeks promise to be crucial for the club, and would require Pochettino to effectively lead the club even in the face of adversity.