Mauricio Pochettino has backed Daniel Levy’s comments about the Tottenham manager and chairman seeing “eye to eye in terms of strategy,” adding to the speculation about Toby Alderweireld’s future.
At a meeting between the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust and the club’s board this week, Levy reiterated his stance that no player Pochettino wants to keep will be sold this summer.
Levy’s words were likely a response to suggestions the club is considering the sale of Alderweireld this summer.
Contract talks between Spurs and Alderweireld have reportedly broken down, and a number of clubs from across Europe are already being linked with a move for the Belgian – including Barcelona.
Levy clearly backs Pochettino’s judgement, which could mean the manager will try to convince the board to keep Alderweireld this summer.
However, Pochettino has admitted it is important to strike a balance between business matters and football matters when making decisions about players’ futures.
“We share the decision between Daniel, us and now Steve [Hitchen, the chief scout]. The last word is [shared] between us,” said Pochettino (via Ham&High).
“If you disagree it’s like when you’re at home – when you disagree with your wife or your girlfriend, you fight until one gets the final decision.
“We started like this, on opposite sides, and then we started to build our relationship, a personal relationship and professional relationship.
“It’s about balance. On my side, as a manager, I can say ‘I want this’ or ‘I don’t want this’, but in another side I can affect the financial side. Also, if you take only decisions on the financial side, that can affect the football.
“It’s a relationship like when you’re married. Four years in football is long. The most important thing is to work like a team. We need to behave like a team on the pitch if we want to win.
“If Daniel, because he is the owner and chairman, takes his own decision and that affects the changing room and the football, I think it’s not a good balance. If I take a decision and don’t check with him, it’s going to affect his job.
“The most important thing is try to find the balance and all work together – and we’re working all together on all the decisions.”
Pochettino’s quotes indicate that even if keeping Alderweireld would be the correct football decision, it might not be the right business one.
As a result, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the defender leave the club at the end of the season.