Former Arsenal player and legend, Paul Merson, has called for Tottenham to sack their current manager, Antonio Conte, and replace him with Mauricio Pochettino. Conte’s future at Tottenham has been uncertain since the team’s poor performance in the Champions League, which saw them bow out of the competition. With no talks to extend his contract, many have speculated that he will be replaced. Merson believes that Pochettino, who is currently out of work, should be appointed as soon as possible.
Merson argues that there is no point in keeping Conte if Tottenham wants to get into the top four. He believes that Spurs are currently going nowhere and that Pochettino could lift the players in the race for fourth. He also suggests that appointing Pochettino now would give him time to prepare for next season.
Merson’s comments come after Tottenham’s disappointing performance against AC Milan, which saw them fail to overturn a 1-0 deficit. The team’s lacklustre display resulted in boos and jeers from supporters when Conte replaced attacker Dejan Kulusevski with centre-back Davinson Sanchez for the final minutes.
Conte’s future at Tottenham has been the subject of much scrutiny, with his lucrative contract set to expire this summer. Many fans have called for Pochettino to return to the club, as he guided them to four consecutive Champions League finishes during his previous tenure. Despite not winning a trophy for Spurs, Pochettino took the club to the Champions League final in 2019.
Tottenham sacked Pochettino in November 2019 after five-and-a-half years in charge. Prior to his arrival, Spurs had finished in the top four in just two of their previous 22 seasons in the Premier League. During his time at the club, he took charge of 293 games, winning 159, losing 72 and drawing on 62 occasions.
Merson acknowledges that he does not like to see managers get sacked, but believes that sometimes it is necessary to shake things up. He argues that Spurs are a big football club and need to start moving forward again. He suggests that appointing Pochettino now would be a win-win situation, as Conte no longer looks like he wants to be there anymore.
In conclusion, Merson has called for Tottenham to sack Antonio Conte and replace him with Mauricio Pochettino. He believes that Spurs are currently going nowhere and that Pochettino could lift the players in the race for fourth. While some may disagree with Merson’s opinion, it is clear that Tottenham needs to make some changes if they want to start winning trophies again.