Leeds United may be forced to make a ruthless call over Daniel Farke to secure Mauricio Pochettino after the Argentinian admitted he was interested in a Premier League return.
When Jesse Marsch was dismissed as Leeds manager at the beginning of 2023, fans were keen to see Marcelo Bielsa disciple Mauricio Pochettino take over as head coach.
Although cold water was quickly poured on suggestions that Pochettino could move to Elland Road, as reported by TBR Football at the time, there was a hope among the Leeds fanbase that he could be the natural heir to Bielsa’s legacy.
After a short stint as Chelsea manager, Pochettino took the job as head coach of the US Men’s National Team and will lead them into the next World Cup.
However, the former Tottenham boss has now admitted that he remains open to a return to the Premier League after the tournament. Although it would be harsh on current head coach Daniel Farke, Leeds must make a move to bring the Argentinian to Elland Road as they look to become a force in the top flight.
What did Mauricio Pochettino say about a Premier League return?
Speaking to TalkSport on the morning of the sixth of November, Pochettino said he remains open to a return to the Premier League following the World Cup this summer.
According to Pochettino, the Premier League remains the best league in the world, and he wants to test himself in the competition again in the future.
Asked if he felt a sense of unfinished business in the Premier League, Pochettino said: “Maybe it’s possible, yes.
“What is my challenge? In the future, of course, after the World Cup and now focusing on the national team in the USA, it may be to come back one day to the Premier League.”
He added: “Why not one day to come back to the Premier League? For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world, the most competitive.
“And yes, I don’t say that it’s an unfinished show, but the thing is, why not have the possibility again to challenge and to be involved in the Premier League and to challenge for big things.”
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Leeds United may be forced to make ruthless Daniel Farke call
The first and most pressing obstacle to Leeds’ hopes of bringing Pochettino to Elland Road is their own Premier League status, as there is no chance of the Argentinian moving to the Championship.
Should Leeds avoid relegation this season, it would create a dilemma for the 49ers, as it would mean Farke had done the job asked of him and kept his side in the top flight.
Farke remains under contract with Leeds until the end of the 2027 season, which would mean the 49ers would be forced to actively remove the German to install a new manager.
However, Pochettino’s track record speaks for itself. At Southampton, he transformed them from relegation contenders under Nigel Adkins and led them to an eighth-place finish.
| Metric | Total |
| Played | 669 |
| Won | 331 |
| Drawn | 140 |
| Lost | 198 |
He then turned Tottenham into title contenders and Champions League finalists, before underwhelming spells with PSG and Chelsea took some of the gloss off his reputation.
Southampton were three points outside of the relegation zone when Adkins was sacked, a decision which the Daily Echo described as a “gut-punch” for the former Saints boss.
But difficult decisions are part of life in the elite sporting world. If a manager of Pochettino’s calibre becomes available, the club have to try to tempt him to take on the project at Elland Road.
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Mauricio Pochettino on Marcelo Bielsa’s influence
Pochettino began his football career under Bielsa at Newell’s Old Boys and the former Tottenham manager has praised the Leeds icon’s influence on his career several times.
Speaking to TNT Sports in 2023, although he praised Bielsa as an “important” influence on his career, Pochettino admitted he wanted to be seen as a coach with his own philosophy.
He said: “Of course, Marcelo [Bielsa] was a really important coach for me, but different coaches also were important to create my idea, my philosophy that I share now with my coaching staff.
“We are a coaching staff that has been working [together] for 12-13 years; it’s our philosophy now, it’s not a ‘Mauricio’ philosophy.
“We really believe [in it], and we add our quality to create this philosophy. Of course, we are open to evolve and to adapt to the new era, because football is changing.”
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