'Tottenham will miss Pochettino & should spend again'

Serious questions are being asked of an under-fire coach, but the former Tottenham midfielder believes he needs to be given more support

Questions are being asked of an under-fire coach following a difficult start to the 2019-20 campaign.

Redknapp said in the Daily Mail: “The moment I knew there was trouble on the horizon at Tottenham Hotspur was at the start of the season, when Mauricio Pochettino told us to refer to him as the 'coach' rather than the 'manager'.

“'I am not in charge and I know nothing about the situation of my players,' he said during their pre-season tour in July. 'The club needs to change my title and description. I am the boss deciding the strategic play, but in another area, I don't know. I feel like I am the coach.'

“This was Pochettino letting us all know that he was in the dark about transfers and contract talks — and that is wrong. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is so lucky to have this man working for him. This is one of the best bosses in world football, and he should be backed like it, too.

“Levy is a brilliant businessman, but I can't help feeling Tottenham missed the opportunity of a lifetime two years ago. They were in a superb position, one from which they could have properly kicked on.

“Yet their strict salary cap and lack of spending has held them back. They have stood still while others have caught up. Arsenal used to look way behind their north London rivals but not anymore. The same goes for Chelsea and Leicester City, both of whom are now fighting with Spurs for a top-four finish.

“You need those ready-made stars in your squad if you are to compete with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool. Not only that, you need to pay them properly, too. Otherwise, players will refuse to sign contracts – as we have seen with Christian Eriksen and Co – and the squad will grow unsettled. All this has left Pochettino looking like a defeated man on that touchline.

“Levy has to take his share of the blame for the sorry situation they are in. A lot of fingers have been pointed at Poch but that's not right. Sacking the Argentine is not the answer. Spurs would only miss him when he's gone. It would be better to start backing him.”