Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino still has affection for Southampton
Sunday 5 October 2014 08:58, UK
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino claims he looks back with affection on his time in charge of Southampton as he prepares to face his former club on Sunday.
The former Argentina international was a relative unknown when he arrived at St Mary's to replace the popular Nigel Adkins in January 2013.
But Pochettino quickly won over around the doubters and last season Saints enjoyed their best-ever Premier League campaign - success which persuaded Spurs to bring him to White Hart Lane.
His exit sparked an unparalleled exodus from the club, with chairman Ralph Krueger accusing those players of only wanting a short-cut to Champions League football.
Such comments were also aimed at Pochettino in the wake of his move to White Hart Lane - and were suggestions he was quick to reject.
"No, no, no," Pochettino said. "My decision was my decision for a lot of reasons, but if I don't talk in the moment, now is for me (time to) forget. I am looking forward.
"Southampton was a great period in my life - I think the best period in my life, that one year and a half.
"A lot of people love me from Southampton and I have very good memories. I can't explain another thing.
"When I take a decision, I always believe. After, maybe you have luck or no luck, but when you take a decision in your life you always need to be looking forward."
Pochettino insists he still has a soft spot for Southampton, but he does not expect a good reception from the travelling fans at White Hart Lane.
But Pochettino was coy about when asked if Southampton were rivals to Tottenham for a European place at the end of the campaign.
"Some players left," Pochettino said. "The manager and staff left, but they invested a lot of money in the new players.
"They signed very good players and I think the team have a lot of players in Southampton that played with us.
"Maybe, yes, some players left, but they invest in new players and very good players.
"It is the beginning of the season and in football it is not like you finish in May. It is a very long, long, long race.
"I am happy for their start to the season, but today it is impossible to guess what will happen eight months ahead."
