The Argentine coach will be managing Spurs’ London rivals next season (Picture: Getty)
Tottenham striker Harry Kane has wished Mauricio Pochettino well in his new role as Chelsea manager – though hopes the Blues still finish below Spurs.
The Argentine was confirmed as Chelsea’s new manager on Monday after putting pen to paper on a two-year deal – with the option for a further year – and will begin his new role officially at the start of next month.
Pochettino has an enormous rebuilding job on his hands, with Chelsea having recorded their worst finish (12th) and points tally (44) in Premier League history after a miserable campaign.
Eighth-placed Tottenham did not fare a whole lot better, also missing out on a place in Europe, and they too have spent the past two months looking for a new permanent head coach.
Surprisingly, the north Londoners never reached out to former boss Pochettino despite the 51-year-old having overseen their highest-ever points tally in the Premier League as well as taking the team to the Champions League final in 2019.
Kane made his big breakthrough under the Argentine and says he holds no ill will towards his old manager despite his decision to accept a job offer from Tottenham’s fierce London rivals.
Speaking to Reuters at an event in New York, the England skipper said: ‘Mauricio was an amazing manager for me. Great person, great, great coach.
Kane spent five prolific seasons under Pochettino (Picture: Getty)
‘He helped me a lot to get to where I am now. So I’m really appreciative of him.’
On Pochettino’s move to Chelsea, which has not gone down at all well with Tottenham supporters, he continued: ‘Everyone has their career, everyone has their future. So all I can say is I wish him all the best.
‘I hope he does well – just obviously not as well as us!’
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Pochettino had previously ruled out ever managing Arsenal due to his affiliation with Spurs, though that did not prove to be a stumbling block when it came to taking over at Chelsea despite the two clubs sharing an only marginally less heated rivalry.
‘I would never train Barcelona or Arsenal because I am tied to Tottenham. I grew up at Newell’s and I would never train Rosario Central,’ said the Argentine in 2019, shortly after leaving Spurs.
‘This is my decision. I would prefer to work on my farm in Argentina than to go and work in certain places.’
Tottenham, meanwhile, are still searching for a new permanent manager to succeed Antonio Conte – who was axed over two months ago – with Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou the current frontrunner, though any move will have to wait until after Saturday’s Scottish Cup final.
MORE : Mauricio Pochettino calls Manuel Ugarte as Chelsea contract offer is beaten by Paris Saint-Germain
MORE : Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood claims Daniel Levy wanted to sell Harry Kane for just £600,000
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The Argentine coach will be managing Spurs’ London rivals next season.
