Mauricio Pochettino has dropped another massive hint that his heart still belongs to European club football. The current United States national team coach admitted his ultimate dream is to win the Champions League and Premier League, not the World Cup.
That's quite the revelation from a man who's supposed to be focused on leading the USA into a home World Cup in 2026. But Pochettino has never been shy about his love for the English game, especially Tottenham.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, the Argentine got everyone talking again. He made it crystal clear that he's not done with the Premier League, and specifically hinted that Spurs haven't achieved enough since his departure.
Tottenham's Europa League Win 'Not Enough'
Pochettino didn't hold back when discussing Tottenham's current situation. Sure, they won the Europa League last season, but according to Poch, that's simply not good enough for a club of their size.
"To win a Europa League, that the team won, is good, but it's not enough," he stated bluntly. "It is not enough to challenge for the Carabao Cup, or the FA Cup, or the Europa League, or the Conference League."
He believes Tottenham should be fighting for the big ones. The Champions League and Premier League should be their targets, not secondary competitions. Given Spurs' current struggles in the table, these comments will certainly raise eyebrows among fans and the club hierarchy.
For punters keeping an eye on Tottenham's future, Pochettino's continued public interest in the club could signal potential managerial changes if results don't improve. The emotional connection between manager and club remains incredibly strong.
Champions League Over World Cup
Here's where things get really interesting. When asked which trophy he most wants to win, Pochettino's answer was immediate: "For me Champions League and Premier League."
He added almost as an afterthought: "Of course the World Cup but Champions League and Premier League for me are things that I don't know how, but I will touch it for sure. I don't know which club."
That phrase "I don't know which club" will have several Premier League chairmen picking up their phones. Pochettino spent five years at Spurs, taking them to the 2019 Champions League final, and clearly views that as the highlight of his career.
His later spells at PSG and Chelsea had mixed results, but the Tottenham years remain special. The 53-year-old still refers to Spurs as his "home" in English football, which tells you everything about where his loyalties lie.
US Soccer might be getting nervous right now. They hired Pochettino for his big-game experience and tactical nous, but his admission that the Premier League obsesses him more than the World Cup is awkward timing. With the tournament just around the corner in 2026, you'd expect total focus on the national team project.
The betting markets for next Tottenham manager will be worth watching closely. Every time Pochettino makes comments like these, his odds shorten. Whether he'd actually leave the USA job before the World Cup is another question entirely, but stranger things have happened in football.
