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The High Performance Podcast
Pochettino & Perez: Truth About Spurs, How We Handled Kane, Neymar, Mbappé & Messi (E391)
01:23:24
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- [00:01]
Mauricio Pochettino
The club wasn't sure about Harry Kane's future. When we explained to the club we want him on the squad, it was difficult to convince. It's not true that we didn't want to win titles like Carabao cup or faa. The problem was that we were focusing too many places. Messi, Neymar, Mbappe. What we did is to try be ourselves, try to do in the way that we feel, but knowing that we are going to suffer.
- [00:31]
Interviewer / Host
You're listening to High Performance. Thanks to everyone who's already subscribed. If you've not, right now is the time, because you'll get new episodes the moment they drop. And your support helps us bring more world class guests onto the show. Tap. Subscribe right now and keep growing with High Performance. Gentlemen, welcome.
- [00:53]
Mauricio Pochettino
Thank you so much.
- [00:54]
Interviewer / Host
Welcome back to High Performance and for the first time ever, ever on this show, we have a football manager with his assistant alongside him. So let me come to you first of all, Maurizio, why is Jesus so important to your success as a manager?
- [01:08]
Mauricio Pochettino
Why it's so important? Because I think we share the vision and the same philosophy and the values in that business that you really need to be very optimized the time and decisions and everything. And I think to have a person with the knowledge of Jesus, with the capacity only to see each other and know exactly what we expect and what we want and translate not only to the player enough to the staff, which is our main philosophy and ideas.
- [01:47]
Jesus Perez
Obviously, because we have been together for so long and because he brings me or he takes me everywhere, you know, so I mean, we go to the World cup, draw the other coaches, they are not with their assistants, but I'm there. But it's been more than 10 years.
- [02:04]
Mauricio Pochettino
I brought my wife too.
- [02:05]
Jesus Perez
Yeah, well, Jesus and my wife.
- [02:08]
Interviewer / Host
So why do you have Jesus there?
- [02:10]
Mauricio Pochettino
It's part of my success, my life, my work, my. I don't know. It's true that I love my son that work with me. I love Sylvia, that now is the last add to the group. I love Mickey, I love Tony, but I think he's like the like explained before that connect is like the person that connect all this group of people. When you arrive to the clubs, that is very difficult. If you need to go directly like a coach, you spend too much energy and you cannot be focusing what you need to be focused. And then because this connection, friendship is not only. We are not only that work together. If not we are friends. And that is not always happen in life. To have the possibility to work with Some people that after become your friend.
- [03:11]
Interviewer / Host
We want to talk in detail about what's going on in the usa because I think one of the challenges for you is trying to create that universal energy in a group of players that you're not with every day like you were when you were at your football clubs. But before that, I want to just reverse a few years to talk about some of the key moments in your career where you had to work as a pair. And I wanted to talk about when you first arrived at Tottenham together and Harry Kane was on the very fringes of the Tottenham squad. So before you arrived, he'd scored three Premier League goals. By the end of your first season together, looking after him and coaching him, he'd scored 21 goals. Do you both remember when was the first time that you saw Harry and thought there's something special here?
- [03:55]
Mauricio Pochettino
We arrive and it's not through data, it's through your eyes and your gut feel. It's about small, very small thing. A touch of the ball. How finish in one action or one answer when you ask something you know or how behave when he's in the lunch or in the breakfast or how he dress when arrive. How he move in the gym is too plenty of details. Small thing that you pay attention. Like it was him. Like was Ryan Mason or different player that we met when we arrived. No, when we arrived to Tottenham, when we saw Harry Kane we said, no, he's a player that we need. He's young, he needs to stay with us. But I remember that Adebayor was Soldado and was him. But the club wasn't sure about Harry Kane's future and they wanted to sign a third striker. And we said no, we don't need that third striker. We have Harry Kane. No that to give the space. Yeah, but have no experience. Okay. And we were so lucky because the club made an offer for Welbeck. In this moment in I think Manchester United was Welbeck, but Shirou got injured. I think was in Arsenal and Arsenal make another offer or bigger offer. And Welbe signed for Arsenal and was lucky because we didn't bring Welbeck and was the space for Hurricane. I don't know if I explained one day or not, but that was the truth. And when that happened, the universe was a confirmation from the universe with us and was like it hard again. No, because that happened because something special that we were special or we are special. That is okay. Harry Kane is going to be in the first team. He's not going to be in Loan and he's going to be, you know, and you're going to have the career that after, you know, and develop his skill with us. But when we explained to the. To the club we want him on the squad, was difficult to convince because the most difficult scene in football is to anticipate the things. See that Hurricane today is one of the best strikers in the world. It's easy. But to anticipate or to project that Hurricane in one year is going to be one of the best striker in England. No, they say you are guessing. No, you have no idea. But that scene is one of also our skills that we have and we have that, you know, complicity with the universe that sometimes this configuration made that that happen in this moment. And we gave what. What Harry deserved. The possibility to be, you know, one of the best striker in so.
- [07:07]
Interviewer / Co-host
So beyond the anticipation, what do you both feel you offered Harry that has allowed him to go on and become one of the greatest strikers of all time?
- [07:16]
Mauricio Pochettino
No, for me the determination is one of the scene his mindset. He was. He was determined to succeed. He was so focused, of course was to have the possibility to create a good platform for him to evolve. But I think what he achieved and how he did was amazing because was a. You know, is because his. His mindset, you know, he was so determined to be successful and think is for me one of the best skill a part of the another. But he was so strong in his mind.
- [08:02]
Jesus Perez
And I think it was key as well in that moment the way Mauricio protecting Harry. Because I do remember a meeting that was tough with the club in terms of communication because it was public. Like Welbeck could come joined the team. So therefore maybe Harry, you know, himself would like to go. But once Welbeck signed for Arsenal, like the club suggested that Mauricio should give a statement, say I'm happy with the three strikers. And Mauricio said it's not necessary for me to say. Because if I'm saying that and giving the impression to Harry that I really wanted another one to come and not him. So from day one, I was very comfortable for Harry to stay with us and to take time to succeed. So that statement that never came out, it was super important to protect Harry and also to give the signal that I really trust you. It's not necessary for me to say that there are those things on management that no one can see but define the career of. Of a player in. In this case.
- [09:17]
Mauricio Pochettino
Okay, it's true.
- [09:19]
Interviewer / Host
What difference would it have made if that statement had gone Out. You think that would have put more pressure on Harry?
- [09:24]
Jesus Perez
Yeah. Is it looks like the statement was to protect ourselves. Like we are happy with these guys. But while you you are taking a statement, you know, why do you put in a statement is because probably you were negotiating with another one. Now we can talk.
- [09:40]
Mauricio Pochettino
Because I am happy. I am happy with these three. I am happy the club that was senior non say if I need to make any statement it's because we're really worried. Not what this. The people seeing know that.
- [09:55]
Jesus Perez
But he was so, so tough with Harry at that time. Because yes, Harry came a gaming Belgrade. Yes, we left and then on the way back it wasn't included on. On the Premier League game the weekend after. And Harry knocking his door said why I'm not. Why I'm not in the squad now.
- [10:16]
Mauricio Pochettino
I said okay, because you are not performing. And you, you're right. It's not right, you know. And I said okay, out. And then came with with the.
- [10:26]
Jesus Perez
It wasn't easy for him.
- [10:27]
Mauricio Pochettino
No, it wasn't easy. It wasn't easy because sometimes the young, young players become confused. But that is part of the. To provide, you know, the young player the tools to perform and to become strong.
- [10:44]
Interviewer / Co-host
But you both have reputations of developing young players to eventually blossom. Take us into how you decide the right moments to challenge and be demanding and the moments where you need to put your arm around them and care for them.
- [11:00]
Mauricio Pochettino
That is the emotional part of this game that you need to have the skills to know when because it's really, really key. You cannot protect when the player deserves to be not protected or when you need to push when you don't need to push, you need to give some confidence or sometimes you need to challenge or sometimes you need to challenge. That is about your skills. Is our decision. Isn't the way that we work daily every day? Because every day we arrive to maybe 6 o'. Clock. The last time in Chelsea we arrived 6 o' clock in the morning and we start to talk from the number one to 25 and we in two hours maybe talking about the necessities, how we saw the day before, how we plan to see the player and which level mental, physical, technical, tactical, knowledge about the game. If we need to talk about the game and we need to talk about different things. And I think that is being consistent talking every day look after the player. Every single player with the necessity. And then it was so easy because one of the things that we made this first day is to spend time with every single player. First, second day Third day and spend when some player five minutes with another player one hour depend of the connection with the player and the necessity of how they are open or not. But that is about the knowledge, not the external. You know, know how they are in the static way, but only how they feel, how they think, the mindset, how sensitive. You know, these type of things that are really important after in the way that you are going to communicate with. Because it's another thing to speak with Hurricane that Dele Alli or. Or Schambertogen or Humin son or Christian Eriksen. You know, one came from Denmark, the another from France. Different, you know, background everything. And that is for me is the skill that like a coaching staff is the principal thing is the most important thing. And then is data is another is this tactic is okay, but if you don't have this skill in your group of people that is going to manage person people. And I think you can win games, you can win some trophy, but you are not going to be successful.
- [13:39]
Jesus Perez
Those strategies are natural now. But I learned so much from. From him, especially on. On the readiness for a young player. Probably because he made the debut in a big team in Argentina when he was so young. And he has this capacity to project part of his career on the young player. And always he says the player start to play when he's ready, when the group accepts the young player and he's a good KPI. There are no report that says that. But when the group says, hey coach, the young guy is doing well, you know, he's a senior, you know, he's a key KPI that says, okay, this guy is ready. But. And then there are a lot of things on that journey that you need to face. I mean, as an example we can use Levi Kobe wasn't sure to come back to Chelsea. And during the summer we were talking to him. He was in the Euros, I think.
- [14:37]
Mauricio Pochettino
In the Euros, Yes.
- [14:38]
Jesus Perez
You know, and it was really hard to convince him to come back, you know, for whatever happened in the past. But then they had an amazing connection. And I do remember conversations where he says, listen, all the big center backs in the world, you know, when they were young, with your technical ability, with your physicality, they all play in a different roles. Center back, left back, with more or less adjustments, you know, because. And then when you play, you know, when you start to play regular as a center back will be super easy for you, you know, and. And he was fully convinced that it was the best for him. Look what happened. We played the first game against Liverpool Home Levi has to face Mo Salah, you know, and for Mauricio, Levi did an amazing game. And for us, we were so happy. Why? Because he projects the performance of a guy in time. So this okay, now he start to play. I accept those mistakes or those errors are normal, you know, with several games, you know, these guys, they learn so quick and it will be fine. So what happened? He received external report, not from the club, you know, external, you know, his company or personal. Because now today players, they have external nutrition, fitness coach, mental coach, they have everything, you know, and tactical coach, which is super risky. And the guy, the day after training I saw Levi dead.
- [16:07]
Mauricio Pochettino
And he said, what happened?
- [16:09]
Jesus Perez
I'm dead. Why? No, I received the report yesterday, you know, and I was wrong. I did everything wrong. I said, are you serious? Yes. And he said, no way. We just, I came out from Maurice's office, you know, how good you were yesterday, how pleased we are with what you did, you know, so we, you, you were defending the best player in the Premier League. So that's the context, you know, he received like match of the day clips, you know, body shape here, you know, just nothing but how different the assessment of a player could be with the same performance. So that ability to play with those strategies can make a player to step up or to kill a player. And that's internal analysis or external analysis with no context.
- [17:01]
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- [18:03]
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- [19:06]
Mauricio Pochettino
There.
- [19:06]
Interviewer / Co-host
Was a lovely quote from Cole Palmer about his relationship with both of you where he said they gave me the opportunity and the freedom to do what I do. Which sounds really simple but how do you go about giving a player that freedom?
- [19:20]
Mauricio Pochettino
In the first few training sessions One day after few transition came to my office and Jesus was there and Mickey, I don't know Antoni I said coach Jesus and guys, because I was seeing what you expect from the player that played my position. I think I need to do a little bit more specific show because I didn't do too much in city and I think I need to. What do you think? I looked to Jesus that desire is.
- [19:56]
Interviewer / Analyst
Crack it.
- [19:57]
Mauricio Pochettino
Stop it. Stop. Because a guy that arrived after few training sessions said because of the demand that you expect for a player in that position. I said I am not ready to do what you expect from a player in that position in this moment. You say wow, come on. That is going to be top with equality and this intelligence about to, you know to wanted to do everything to perform is it. And then look and then the freedom is. It's always we said no. We love to be an organization cows no and player need to feel that it's a chaos but with organization and that is the freedom that you can find because you respect the rules, you know what they need to do on the pitch. But at the same time you feel the freedom to express your talent. And a player like Cole Palmer, you cannot say no. You move from here to there. That is your movement and it's mechanic, you know? No, no, of course it's mechanic. When in some aspect of the game that. When maybe we don't have the ball, you need to do this, do that. Okay. Organization, when we lose the ball, transition everything aspect. But after, in positional game is this, you need to have your team. But after is your quality and your capacity to understand the game. What is the demand of the game or the situation? The intuition and the capacity to see space, you know, to write to or to do dribbles and shoot. That after we are not going to cut this potential, you know, that is why football is so emotional, because our player like him, with the capacity to create that emotion that the people become crazy.
- [21:51]
Interviewer / Host
You remember that moment he came in the office and said that?
- [21:54]
Jesus Perez
Yeah, we do remember plenty with him because there are some very good and some ones that are funny as well, so. But he's super talented.
- [22:06]
Interviewer / Host
What would you share with us about a story about Cole Palmer that you think summed up your relationship or your understanding of him as a player?
- [22:14]
Jesus Perez
Because he has emotionally intelligent, above. Above the level of avidash, above av. Yeah, above the average footballers, you know, and makes him special. What he's capable to do with. With the ball, it's. It's obvious, you know, but everything else that you don't see, how he assess situations, how. How to behave. But also because he's so young, sometimes he made a mistake. But when he made a mistake and it was challenged, you know, he had the capacity to. To accept it and to say, yeah, I was wrong, sorry, you know, won't happen again. And that makes him great. So, because he's above average.
- [23:05]
Interviewer / Co-host
You were smiling though, when. When we asked you about him. What was the funny story?
- [23:10]
Jesus Perez
Yeah, I think it was one gap game, half time, you know, so Mauricio was a bit tough on the group. You know, sometimes when you play a team that is not in the same division, it could be, you know, a different approach. I would say so. And Mauricio gave a talk and then he left. And then when he left, he comes to me and says A and B. And I said to him, why you didn't say 10 seconds before he was here? You know, that's not. There's not something to, you know, and you know, he knew that he made that mistake. So it's fine to say whatever to the assistants, but that question was next time you go direct to him, either in public or in private, you know, and those things makes the connection in between a manager and the flame.
- [24:05]
Mauricio Pochettino
Of course, the day after we call and say call. What do you need to tell me? You are brave. Be brave here, coach. Okay. It was good.
- [24:18]
Interviewer / Host
You know, it's so interesting this, isn't it? Because your job really is to. To get the players absolutely primed for a Saturday, for a kickoff. You can't go too much because it kills their confidence. You can't go too little because they relax. It's about trying to get it absolutely perfect. What is the secret to. To priming them for that moment?
- [24:37]
Mauricio Pochettino
Do you think the secret is to read that muffler and the emotional signal from the group?
- [24:45]
Jesus Perez
Yeah.
- [24:46]
Interviewer / Host
And did you ever get it wrong? Go too much or go too little?
- [24:49]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yes. Sometimes you. You are wrong. No, you never. You are not per. We are not perfect. Sometimes we. We sometimes, you know, over stress the group. And sometimes we too much relax or too much joy when we need to put more stress. It's very thin the line. No, but I think after our experience, we feel that is the most important thing is to be focused. Of course, we have a group of people that measure the data and everything. Players are tired, not tired, things like this. But I think the important thing is measure the emotional state of the group. And always is in all the whole group, you have few player that give the signal how the group is feeling. And that is the moment that you act after. It's not a data that can measure the. The level of emotional state of the group. That I think is a key part of our management is to be right in how we apply our load in training. Not to stress too much, put too much stress, but also not to be short in what we are giving to the. To their players.
- [26:23]
Interviewer / Host
And who was the player at Chelsea that you would look at?
- [26:25]
Mauricio Pochettino
Jesus.
- [26:26]
Interviewer / Host
And see whether you'd done the job right in the week. Who was the player that you could either speak to and find out how the group are feeling? Maybe away from Maurizio as the manager, just as the coach to go and speak to them.
- [26:38]
Jesus Perez
We tried to connect with different players. Obviously, the distance in between players and coaches are set by players. So there are players that they want more distance, more, you know, and then obviously could be experience, could be commitment, could be different. And maybe you don't ask the same to everyone. You get the feeling from them, obviously, if they play more or they play less, you have to be, you know, careful with the feedback. And it's not like you just rely on one. Because I think what. What we Try to to show to the players is like no matter what's your age or your experience, we are going to treat you fairly. We are here for you. If you play less, we are going to be more intent on you because we want you to have more coaching time because you are not playing in order that you can short our distance with the ones they are playing. Those kind of things. And we used to say that our job is like. Is an art because you need to pick, but it's the same as yours. So you have a list of questions. The way you connect with us, making the questions makes you different. Otherwise can see two people here and they read the questions and I'm sure we are not gonna give the same answers. So there are no set protocol to get that feedback.
- [28:03]
Interviewer / Host
See, that's interesting because it reminds me of another quote from Cole Palmer where he said about you actually Maurizio, he said the manager just speaks to me like a normal person. Not about football, but about life. He makes me feel relaxed, he makes me feel confident. And I sometimes think we miss that. If you're trying to get someone to perform at an elite level, it's not all about your sprinting and your intensity and your mindset and your desire and your drive. So how's your mum? How's your sister? How are you? These things are just as important.
- [28:31]
Mauricio Pochettino
But why but the player need to feel that it's Shenwin genuine answer question that you are interested because you really care. It's not because that is like I am a coach and that is my list of duty today. Speak with Palmer. His mother is okay, good. Ah. Tick the box. That need to be very genuine question. It's not to call Palmer to my office say how is your mom? How is your dad? Okay, good, thank you. No, it's sometimes no people become confused. Is the circumstance is the moment is the timing is because something happened. It's not always sometimes spend time together and not to talk. I don't know. It's like Jesus said, it's an art. That is the real tactic of manager being coach, being manager being head coach or being coaches. Because after in the pitch also I think we are so good doing what we are doing in a tactical preparation and everything. Because I think that is the most easy thing in that game. Because the knowledge I think we all today the coaches we have the same knowledge about tactic, preparation of the game, set pieces, everything, Everything. But the key is how you after provide the player the possibility to evolve with these tactics in an environment or in a place that you really enjoy and you want to be and you want to belong. That is why sometimes the mistake is, oh, some coaching staff is not due to much tactics during the week. Or another coaching staff do more tactic than. Or more set pieces or less set pieces or like this. I think in the way that we see the things is the priority. It's always to provide the group of the player what they need, which is the priority. The priority is because we are in a very good level of fitness, mental cohesion of the group. We are united, we really care about. We don't need to work in this. We need to be focused in tactics because it's going to work. But if you want to go to the tactics before to fix all this type of problem. If I not connect with Jesus, I cannot work with him. The coach is going to come. No, but when Jesus move on the left, you move on the right. I say Jesus move on the left, I go on the left too. I don't care, I stay here, I don't move or Jesus speak with me and I don't answer because I have no good relationship. Come on. Or they don't talk in between each other. If you don't fix all this, that is tactic too. It's very difficult to create. We in Chelsea, we arrived in a group that was new group. No, was a new group was in a very difficult situation. Because I think in Stalford bridge was after six months, they didn't win one game or one game. They finished 12. Okay. Very difficult situation that become all with the situation was creating. Because problems that, you know, it's easy to remember. But we were from zero. And we start to provide to the team to analyze which is the priority. We cannot from start to build the house from the roof to the. No. We need to settle the principle first. And we were little by little, after six, seven months, six months, the team started to perform. If you watch, because we are watching games like this and you watch the last few games. I remember one game that we played again Brighton in Brighton. That was the last game of the second last game that Brighton was doing really well with the servy. I said the way that we played there. If you analyze the tactical things that with Brighton didn't know how to press us how to play. We were playing unbelievable football. That is not only because our knowledge about tactics was the freedom in this chaos or in this, you know, environment that we create the possibility to the players press all the talent. And when if you go back and see this game, this game like another again. Everton 6 nil or West Ham at home or Bournemouth at home like this. How the team finished playing that is the credit of all these things that we were talking today. Not because we are genius in a tactical way. It's because we create an environment that the player like Malo Gusto that was really young and came from, not to play from Lyon finish playing in his best Badiashile Cucurella that didn't play from the beginning and the club wanted to sell, become the best full back on the Premier League. Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, no Jackson, plenty of player or Caicedo that they grow through all this value or this method of. This idea of you know, to be. To build things. No in this emotional way that is really, really, really key.
- [34:40]
Interviewer / Host
One thing that fascinated us when we were talking earlier about what we would discuss with you is this amazing ability. You've got to go in and work with someone like Harry Kane or Cole Palmer or Levi Coldwell, all of these great players. But then the day that you walk through the door at Paris Saint Germain and suddenly you have Lionel Messi and Mbappe and Neymar, because everyone talks about imposter syndrome. This fear that you have when you suddenly are faced with something, does that happen to a coach when you walk in and you've got some of the world's best players sitting in front of you or do you have to go in there and be exactly the same as you are at Espanol, at Tottenham, at Chelsea? How was that?
- [35:22]
Mauricio Pochettino
Okay, Jesus, start and I finish.
- [35:27]
Jesus Perez
I mean you have to be yourself because if you pretend to be different but obviously they, you need to understand day moment, the equality, everyone knows the equality and obviously that wasn't as very special and unique situation where three world class players that normally they are going to be just one and surrounded by special players in order to, to provide the best platform for them to perform. They were all together and it's not just they were together, they. They had to share the front page of the newspaper, the cease the goal, the penalties, which is very rare. So, you know, so that's was our job was to try to understand the moment and to create environment for those three to feel as comfortable possible, you know, and try to make the team to perform, you know, in the best way. Because it's not Neymar plus Messi plus Mbappe, you know, maybe the equation. It's different because they are sharing things that they never, they never, they weren't born to share. They are the main, the main One. So that was super difficult for him as, as a coach. And we try to provide normality, calmness. They are normal guys that you can speak to, you know, and just to accept that they've been through different experiences, they were in a different moment. So one player was completely different to another. And our job was to generate normality. I would say what I need to.
- [37:17]
Mauricio Pochettino
Say is we were so lucky to be there living that experience. Because I think no another coaching staff can say. We have the two best goalkeeper. Navas Donaruma, best central backs like, you know, Sergio Ramos, Marquinhos Kimpembe. Okay. Fullbacks Akimi, Messi, Mbappe, Neymar. But on the bench or in the same squad. Di Maria, Icardi, Drassler, Wijnaldum, berrati, paredes. Maybe 15, 16, 17 names already and still few more. Herrera, Raphinha, Ganagay, Danilo. Okay. And you it's only can play 11 can play 11. And the problem is when people start to not believe that said. Ah, come on, you need to win 4 nil before to score 4 goals before start the game from the bus. Yeah, I said, but it's not like this. It's not like this because like I said, explained Jesus before you receive Messi with no precision after the the Copa America biggest stress trauma after to leave Barcelona need time to adapt. Neymar some problems Mbappe. But these three guys that they need a team in behind to play for them. They need to share the space like before explaining, oh, who tell who is going to take. Who is the taker of penalty. It's not easy to say because Messi, Neymar, Mbappe. Okay. It's so really, really complex situation when you go and go and go and go. And what we did is to try, like Jesus said, is be ourselves, try to do in the way that we feel. But knowing that we are going to suffer. It's going to be difficult. If we were in Tottenham, a team that was so no high line, press high recover balls in the opposite half. Yes. You cannot expect that Messi is going to press people. When in Barcelona, when he was in his peak with Guardiola, he never pressed. And that is the situation that sometimes the people become confused and said that was the difficult challenge.
- [40:12]
Interviewer / Co-host
And what were those three guys like though to build relationships with, you know, how did you go about doing that?
- [40:19]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yes, the approach was completely different with the three. But I think when we go back and see the whole season that we spent together, I think was never one problem, never discipline problem, never, you know, Disrespectful with us. Always they were on time. They always were, you know, very respectful with our decision. And that is. It's only Messi that you remember when I take off, when again Leon, that he was a little bit disappointed, but that was my decision because. Was to protect him because it was a problem with his knee. And he said to me, oh, Coach, but you need to ask me. I said, yeah, but I cannot ask because all my feedback through the doctors and the people say that you are in a big risk to be injured in your knee. Yeah, yeah, but Guardiola always asks me before to go out. I say, yeah, but I am no Guardiola that in this moment, you know, I said, look, that is different because in this moment that I feel the risk. I don't want to put you in risk. That is sometime, you know, is the disagreement. But always I think he understood that always it's not to challenge him or to show that I am, you know, I have character. I have the personality to say, oh, Messi out. No, Messi out. No. I want to protect you. I care for you, I love you. I don't want you being sure. And that the good and the bad. Because the people start to kill me. No, because Messi was out. No. In this game that we were playing again, Lyon 11 in two weeks. I remember we had a. Have a. A game in Champions League against Manchester City. And he was out for two week. And he started to train Monday and he can play Wednesday. And he scored a very nice goal that two one for us that we beat Manchester City. And he after come on the. On the dressing room and hugged me. No. And only hugged me. I didn't say nothing.
- [42:28]
Interviewer / Co-host
And you're one of the few people in the world, though. When we met you five years ago and had this conversation, we spoke about. You were a roommate with Diego Maradona and you've obviously managed Lionel Messi. How do they compare?
- [42:42]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah, both genius is to compare. Both is your eyes. I know hate to compare, but it's so unfair to say something or another, because when I watch clips from Maradona, I say, wow, the best. And then I put a clip from Messi. I say, the best. He was and for me, both in different period of football, but both genius. Talented. Amazing. Unbelievable. Unbelievable genius of football. It's difficult to find, you know, this type of player is only few in.
- [43:22]
Interviewer / Host
The history, you know, both nearly as good as you.
- [43:27]
Mauricio Pochettino
I am better at coaching.
- [43:28]
Interviewer / Host
There you go. Can I ask how your role changed at Paris Saint Germain because you work with a coach who thrives on universal energy. So he's used to building and creating and looking at the room, and suddenly there's ego and his politics and his power and his commercial demands, and every tiny decision is written about in the newspapers. And the pressure on Maurizio greater than any previous time in his career. So how did that change how you worked with him or looked after him?
- [43:59]
Jesus Perez
Well, obviously tried to connect more with players, because we knew that wasn't that natural, that with 20 plus starters it could have, you know, close connection. As I said before, players, so not just myself, all the coaching staff, we tried to build those relations with, with players. And then what we did at Paris Saint Germain is to simplify the process in terms of the training, because there were so much talented players that Mauricio one day said to me, a talented player need to rest their mind during the week. So we cannot demand complexity through drills. We cannot make these guys overthink during the week, because what everyone expects from them on the game is to create, to create something different from the previous match and the previous season, you know, so to manage that mental load was important, especially on the super talent players and provide the other ones that they have to sustain the physicality of the group. So it was more simple. Obviously, we play plenty of games, so there are not much tough sessions, but the ones that we could perform in certain areas we simplified. So the type of drill, the dynamics was focused on prevention, write analysis of fatigue. Because these guys, they are under huge stress because of the traveling and the possibilities, and especially because these guys, they spend a lot of time on commercial. So I mean, Neymar says, I need to go to German for six hours, do something with Piuma and come back so that spending is not out there. You know, drinking is spending energy and time. And so those kind of things we were especially to bridge, so bridge with the players, to have conversations and then to filter whatever was important. And especially to keep things that they were not relevant from him, not to disturb because he had so much to protect.
- [46:17]
Interviewer / Host
Was it hard?
- [46:19]
Mauricio Pochettino
Was sissy when we were in the training ground was so easy. Because they are very good people, very good guys. I think we really enjoy the time together when the camera were off, when no one see. But that's when you appear outside and you need to go to the media or the media, start to talk about the things. That is when it's difficult because you need to protect your image. You need to project that everything is under control. But you are talking about player that sometimes bigger than the club that you are and they have more followers than the club have supported. And every single decision that you take is affecting millions of people. That was easy inside, but outside was difficult because people is if you win games, it's like the problem is a coach. No, as always, the problem is. And I'm going to explain one. I think Thierry Henry is a good friend and he's not going to be upset about that. But I want to explain one thing. Thierry Henry was a pundit in with Amazon, I think. Sorry, I am maybe doing okay. In a broadcast in France. And we play again Marseille. In Marseille. And after 20 minutes we, I think was a Kimi. Yeah, red card. And we played with 10 men at that moment. We played with Di Maria, Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. Four on the. On from. And we keep playing with the same system with one midfielder, like a central back and then the one center back, like a full back. We keep four, you know, for one. But the second half, of course, you know, when Leo is tired, he trying to protect himself. Going the right side and stay there. But we finished Nil. Nil. The game okay, it was with one less, you know, good game. But he after in the media criticized. Oh, I don't understand Pochettino. Why put Messi so isolate, you know, in the right side? Because Messi need to be close to Neymar to connect. The game plan was Messi 10, the Maria 7, the Mar.11 and then be together, go inside to the pocket to the central channel to stay together with them. But pay him from this. But after, because of the problem of the. And he said, I don't understand Pochettino. Why put Messi on the right side? No and isolate him. He cannot be close to Neymar. That is the player that can link with him. Ba Bam. That is in another side. And do you know what was like the universal, you know, energy, the conspiration of the universe. The day after I go to the train very early was Covid, you know, remember in the period of COVID From Paris to London, I go to the first.
- [49:45]
Jesus Perez
Carriage.
- [49:46]
Mauricio Pochettino
Courage. I saw a guy with a cask. Hey, my friend. Saba. Hey, Saba. Bian, how are you? I wanted to see you. He's going to remember. He said, Kenny, what did you say yesterday? That it's my fault that Messi was there and he didn't connect with. You know, you play with him? No. Do you think that I said to him, go there and don't move, it's too thin. If you believe that was my indication to him, it's because I am so powerful. If Messi do what I want in this moment that to be there and disconnect to the demons. Because I am the most powerful person in the world. And you know very well that. No, sorry, but I needed to say something. I said come on. Yeah, but you are creating a bad image about me because you are lying. Because that is not true. It's not my decision to say message you don't go go there and don't move. That was because the necessity of him to maybe to rest and to say okay, now I am a little bit here resting, recovering, recharging my battery to after to start again and say no, no, no, you are right. Sorry, sorry. He said yeah, but all these type of scene create a bad, you know, image. Say ah, the coach have no idea how to manage this guy or how to tactical way or like this. And this is so opposite or so, you know, unfair. That is why sometimes it's difficult when you have the responsibility to, you know, to talk about what you are seeing, you know and to Sometimes you can explain what is happening on the pitch is not to guess what the coaches was telling before or not telling. No. And that is. I think that is an example. That was tough to manage all this around because after Messi is not going to think about that. But they said player listen that say yes, the coach is bad because look at the coach.
- [51:57]
Interviewer / Host
But that's why I think platforms like this are important where there's time to sit and actually talk properly about what happens. Because otherwise it's quick headlines, it's quick sound bites from pundits and you're left really without a voice. You can't say what you're thinking because you know there's politics, there's players being taken off to go and do media things. There's all sorts of stuff happening that you can't talk about. How do you protect your mental health when you know the truth and the world thinks something different?
- [52:27]
Mauricio Pochettino
Has.
- [52:27]
Interviewer / Host
Has that ever been a. Yeah, that.
- [52:28]
Mauricio Pochettino
Is a big, big. I think that is that relationship keep us help in between us in between the coaching staff. This good relationship. The possibility to talk about very open talks seems that are very sometimes difficult to talk with some people is to have the trust to talk in between us being very honest. It's not to keep nothing inside. Of course I appreciate a lot psychologists, coaches and like this I can help in this way. And that is a serious thing that is not to banalize or to not to talk very in a cheap way. I think it's important to be very respectful. But in that case for us, we create a group of people or I have lucky that we protect ourselves together. At the moment, I think we. I touch wood. No, I think we are doing dealing well with this type of situation. It's true that this is tough. Some example, some people from the clubs, when that moment happened, when Messi out was out, Some people come say, oh, why you put off messing up of the pitch? Say no, because it was a problem. Yeah, but the player said I was good. He said, no, no, no, I have all my information through the doctor there that was problem in his knee. Yeah, but he said that he can stay in the beach. And you know why? The people that came to the Parc des Francis pay the ticket to see 90 minutes Messi, Neymar, Mbappe. I say yes, but I want to win. And we won the game. No, I am the coach, I work for the club, for the fans, for the player. And in this moment we were talking. No, because it was a tough situation that not the player, because Messi didn't say nothing to me. But around is creating that, you know, energy negative. And look that my wife is going to kill now what they're going to say, because after I start to appear, people know what he's doing. Pochettino have no clue why Messi out. Boom, boom, boom. Social media killing you. Because all the Argentine people, the Barcelona fans, the this blah, blah, blah, blah. Okay, that coach have no clue. I remember I arrived because I was living in the hotel. My wife was in the bed. I go to the toilet, came, I go to bed. And she was watching me, seeing me like this. I said, what happened? I said, my love, I said, why? Why what? Why you took off Messi of the picture? He said, look, now what you create the big, big, big, big mess. We cannot be relaxed.
- [55:44]
Interviewer / Host
I thought you were going to say my wife. My wife said, it's okay, I'm here for you, I love you.
- [55:52]
Mauricio Pochettino
Why you take a busy ass? Why you not keeping the inside? But it's true. That is unreal. I can't explain today. I can't explain today. No, but few years ago I can't explain. But this type of situation, you know, is so, so nice. I think it's fun because we are not. We don't criticize no one. But it's in the way that the people see in a different way, know the things, no, and this is important.
- [56:20]
Interviewer / Host
Because this isn't being critical of anyone. But it gives people who never see the opportunity to understand the pressure to understand that there are a million things happening and you're at the center of a storm often.
- [56:31]
Jesus Perez
Yeah, well, you know, this environment, sometimes you need to protect your company. You need to protect, you know, it's not just your image, just to protect the situation. Because tomorrow is another day and today you have a game and you cannot create sting in the past with a, with a situation. So a move on, it's crucial, but move on in a nice way. But also we have to protect ourselves. Sometimes we have to challenge ourselves, but most of the times we need to remind ourselves how good we are on what we do, on the good things that we do. You know, it's not to be arrogant, but when you do something in a nice way and you have to remind how good to protect yourself. Because if you pay attention to headlines, comments, or, you know, or what our environment, you know, tried to tell us, oh, have you seen this newspaper? Have you seen Sky Sports? Have you seen. Be careful. We need to protect ourselves. We do read, we do listen, we do watch. People say, I don't read, I don't watch. No, it's not, you know, we do. But we need to give the same consideration to a bad headline as the same as a good headline, you know, because if you pay attention to a tweet with 10 likes, that is negative and you get mad, you have to say, if there are a good tweet with six likes, you said, okay, this is really good. And six likes or 10 likes, it's nothing. Because you don't, you know, even if it's a million likes is. It means I wouldn't say nothing, but that's not the reality. So sometimes we need to protect ourselves, you know, remind us, okay, we do right things, we win, we lose, that's a sport. But it's not everything instantly negative.
- [58:18]
Interviewer / Host
I love your belief in universal energy, that things happen for a reason. Right? Because actually, if you look at your career, from even just meeting each other at Espanyol and having that great success at Tottenham, getting all the way to the final, but actually ultimately feeling heartbreak. Going to Chelsea, where the team was struggling, transforming the team, going to Paris Saint Germain, where that is an experience that you will never get and very few people will ever have, all of those things are almost necessary to go to the United States and coach the team in the run up to a World cup being hosted in the United States. So it's almost essential that you've had these experiences because you have the, the hope of a nation now resting on your shoulders. And I've heard reports that there is a belief within you and a belief within that squad that you can win the World Cup. Like, is that real? Do you really believe that that is a possibility?
- [59:13]
Mauricio Pochettino
I'm going to. I'm going to say one thing. I start for the. From then and then we go to the beginning in the draw of the World Cup, I was, you know, with the opportunity to meet for few minutes to Donald Trump, Mr. President, he asked me, what do you think, coach, you can win the World Cup? And I said, of course, Mr. President, because it's USA, you know, always the American dream is there and always the American culture is about to be first and be the number one. And when we accept the challenge to go there, it's because we really believe that we can win. And then we don't know if we will win or not because that depends on different things. But I think we are in a place that after one year and a half that we are working there, people start to feel that we can win. I think the last few camps in October and November, we compete with very good again, very good team. And we were capable to start to show that possibility, you know, to perform well. I think that is like you say, it's a massive pressure to be the coach because the expectation is massive. But I think we need to transform that pressure in energy to really enjoy that. We are going to have, you know, the support of a massive country, massive fans in behind us to try to push us, to run, to perform, to score goals, you know, to make tackles. It's about to. We are already working in this, in trying, you know, to transform. We have some meetings now with all the staff, you know, in America, implement some, you know, mindset we already did in the past, but trying to arrive in the World cup with the idea of enjoy and absorb the energy that the people is going to translate in a positive way. Knowing being a massive pressure and you know, to the. Because I think that the pressure is going to, you know, to make you very cautionary about to do things and not to take risks. But if you are capable, we are capable to transform this energy and to come on go and perform and be freedom. I think it's going to be a massive, you know, boost for us to perform.
- [61:53]
Interviewer / Host
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- [64:36]
Interviewer / Co-host
There was a sign from one of your meeting rooms that you had the quote from the management writer Peter Drucker, that culture eats strategy for breakfast. And it went viral. I'm interested in how you're finding the challenge of creating a culture that you've successfully done within clubs and translating that into an international environment where your time with players is so much more limited.
- [65:00]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah, but it's really similar. Maybe with less time and maybe you spend more time, but it's similar because the culture is about your habit. You're a small scene that you create and you settle like principles, you know, in the way that after you are going to behave like a group is in the way that you are going to behave. But off first off the field and then on the field, this type of scene, maybe you spend a little bit more time and it's more long way to achieve. But I think we already. I think we achieved this and that we create a very good culture about in the way that we expect to behave and to perform too, because it's about to create good habits, to put our standard really high to after to, you know, to have the possibility, to have a very strong platform to, you know, to go and to show our quality. But I think in the way that we. It's true that we spend maybe a little bit more time because it's not easy, because sometimes you don't have time. But I think now we are in a point that I think Jesus can confirm or not that is true. I think we are in a very good moment. And I think we arrive, I think on time to prepare now march and then to go to the World cup in our best condition.
- [66:29]
Jesus Perez
When organization makes a change, it's because something has to be different. I'm not saying prove it. And what we found there is like off basics. I will say for whatever reason, because they were a transition or whatever. We did this just to assess under our vision. We didn't go there to teach anyone to show how to do things. It's just to try to convince a group of players and a group of staff that we can be competitive. Because if we go to the FIFA ranks and we try to do the same that Spain, England or Germany, they do, we are different because we have a unique situation where half of the squad plays in different leagues in Europe first and second division. The other guys they play in MLS, whereas 98% or 99% of the English players, they play Premier League or Germany, Spain, Spanish guys, 96% play in Spain. So it's different situations. And as Marisa said, since the Gold Cup, I think something grew inside of the group, that belief, the commitment, the message from them. And it makes us believe that we can be in a short competition, very competitive in the way that we can be tough, tough team. And let's see. And we need. He said that the standards very high and that's the aim.
- [68:06]
Interviewer / Host
Well, look, we wish you all the very best. We will be cheering you on after England, obviously. But look, today's been a real pleasure because it's so nice to get someone who I know is so important to you, but also someone who's so important to you to be next to each other. And I think it's been a really fascinating insight into your relationship. I think the final question really is among all the pressure and the need to win and the media scrutiny and the players you're dealing with, have you both managed to take time to stop and realize that you have not lived ordinary lives like what a pleasure to have experienced the things that you've both experienced for the last 20 or 30 years.
- [68:44]
Mauricio Pochettino
When we came now from a restaurant that we were to here, we were talking about that. That was really good question because we were talking about when we were a child, when we our dreams, how we see each other, when we were, I don't know, 10, 12 year old and we were, you know, we said, oh, we are here in London in one of the best cities in the world, going to do an amazing podcast with you guys. And I said we were talking, we need to congratulate. And I said, well done, Jesus. Because no, we are living a dream in a dream. Because I seen, I came also for a very humble, you know, family. And I was in the middle of nowhere where I born in Argentina. I never think that said I'm going to be here. But now I represent the most powerful country, one of the most powerful country that is America. We are the coaches of America. And we had the opportunity to meet people like, no, he's the president of America. And you say, oh my goodness, I think we need to enjoy also. It's not to be under stress. Under stress and sinking and trying to change the rabbit and not to enjoy in between us with our family. We try. We are very people that we are with the feet in the grass and I think we take time to enjoy.
- [70:12]
Interviewer / Host
Amazing. Well, look, before we finish We've just got one last thing to do. Oh, by the way, we've had some lemons in here for the universal energy.
- [70:21]
Mauricio Pochettino
I knew that you were going to.
- [70:23]
Interviewer / Host
Why are they so important?
- [70:24]
Mauricio Pochettino
It's so important because a friend that really cared about me one day said to me, Mauricio, you need to protect your space where you work. I said, but how? He said, you put a ball of lemon because the lemon protect you from the energy of the people that have no good energy. And if came someone to your office, the lemon is going to attract them bad energy rather to go to. You go to the lemon and then you throw the lemon to the bin and it's not are going to affect you. That is why. And exactly.
- [71:06]
Interviewer / Host
And you believe that?
- [71:07]
Mauricio Pochettino
I believe.
- [71:09]
Interviewer / Host
But look how healthy that lemon looks.
- [71:10]
Jesus Perez
It's healthy.
- [71:11]
Interviewer / Host
That's cuz the energy of the room is so good. Okay, right, that's yours and that's yours. Now you're not allowed to show each other.
- [71:19]
Jesus Perez
Yeah.
- [71:19]
Interviewer / Host
This is a prior. You got to give us some answers to the following questions and we'll see how similar your answers are.
- [71:26]
Mauricio Pochettino
Okay. My wife is with me. Your wife here.
- [71:30]
Interviewer / Host
So the first question is the player that you believe you've enjoyed the closest, tightest relationship with. So you do Jesus and he does yours.
- [71:40]
Jesus Perez
Ah, I'm taking a risk now.
- [71:46]
Mauricio Pochettino
Oh, it's difficult because it's few.
- [71:53]
Interviewer / Host
Jesus, which player has he had the best relationship with, do you think? Or the closest.
- [71:57]
Jesus Perez
I mean he is very good with. But I will say.
- [72:02]
Interviewer / Host
Hugo Lloris. Is that true?
- [72:05]
Mauricio Pochettino
It's true. Who is one of the closer? Yes, yes, yes, yes.
- [72:09]
Interviewer / Host
Okay. Jesus. What do you think he's written down?
- [72:11]
Jesus Perez
I think Harry on the. You say.
- [72:21]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah because he was his. Your coach. Specialist coach. Come on in finishing.
- [72:29]
Jesus Perez
Yeah, he was my coach. He was my coach.
- [72:33]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah, yeah, yeah. He was a special relationship in Paris with him.
- [72:36]
Jesus Perez
He's very close, intense. But we harry longer. Yeah.
- [72:40]
Interviewer / Co-host
Okay, the next one then is. So for each of you, who is the player that surprised you most in your career?
- [72:49]
Jesus Perez
Nay.
- [72:51]
Mauricio Pochettino
Okay. For me, Mason.
- [72:52]
Jesus Perez
Mason.
- [72:53]
Mauricio Pochettino
Ryan Mason.
- [72:54]
Interviewer / Host
Ryan Mason. Yeah, yeah.
- [72:55]
Mauricio Pochettino
Surprise as I seen because when we arrived to Tottenham and we need to give the grade to Sean McDermott when we arrived to Tottenham he was. Was devastate. Ryan Mason. And our first meeting was in. In. In the. In the gym and he was a guy that was. And we said what happened with you? I came from five different loan in the last few years and I was interested. Oh, relax. You be positive. You are going to be with us during six months. I really trust in Sean McDermott. What he said to me, that was one of the best. Because Sean McDermott said to us, Ryan Mason was the most quality player that was in my hands in the. In the academy of Tottenham. I trust in John. We are going to give the opportunity, don't worry. And then we bring for different reason to the pre season and the first game that we play in Seattle with Tottenham in 2014, starting 11. And he understood perfectly all that we explained and how we wanted to play. And wow, what a brain. And I said to Jesus after the game, he played 45 minutes. I said, that is my. My player. That is my. Is my coach inside to the. To the. To the pitch. Amazing. That surprised me, you know, in. In this way. Of course, Natu, because amazing.
- [74:25]
Interviewer / Co-host
So yours was Neymar.
- [74:27]
Jesus Perez
No, I thought I had to say his.
- [74:30]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah, okay, okay, okay.
- [74:32]
Jesus Perez
That's.
- [74:32]
Interviewer / Host
Who have you got?
- [74:33]
Jesus Perez
No, I said nay, because when we sign. So Neymar was so warm with him, with us, you know, and I think. I don't know, it was the first week. One day he arrives in the. In the office and he said, mauricio, it's not necessary for you to ask me for shirts. I give you set amount of shirts for everyone that you need to give. This is one day we shirt, another day with perfumes of his, you know, brands. So he has. I heard that is so big. Despite his moment in his football career as a human, it was someone that was ahead. Never lie things that are unique as a player and then gifted, you know, like everyone else, but is being judged by other things. But that's why, you know, in terms of surprise, you know, so we were surprised with a kind of gestures from. From him, you know, because the way he is.
- [75:38]
Interviewer / Host
It's amazing, isn't it, how you have one opinion of someone and then you realize your opinion is totally wrong. I want you to write down what is the trophy Maurizio would most like to win in his career. And you must write down what do you think is the trophy that Jesus would most like to win in his career? So easy now I think these might be the same. So let's turn them around at the same time. In three, two, one.
- [76:07]
Jesus Perez
He has two dreams. Yeah, the same dream.
- [76:11]
Mauricio Pochettino
Champion. Champion league. Yeah, champion league.
- [76:16]
Jesus Perez
But his is at the same level for me.
- [76:18]
Mauricio Pochettino
Champion league and Premier League, Premier League.
- [76:20]
Jesus Perez
At the same level.
- [76:21]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah, of course they World cup, but Champions League and Premier League for me is a thing that I know how, but I'm going to achieve for sure. I don't know in which club.
- [76:31]
Interviewer / Host
But do you believe, really believe that one day you will win the Premier League as a manager?
- [76:37]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yes.
- [76:39]
Interviewer / Host
How important is it to believe that?
- [76:41]
Mauricio Pochettino
It's really important if you don't believe in things. If you have belief, you have. You know that, you know, hunger and passion and fire is difficult to achieve. But I think it's always. We were talking about that. I think Champions League is amazing because it's a dream too, like a World cup, but the Premier League because we really love, you know, the English football and because football bomb here and we had the possibility. We were so lucky to spend a lot of time in Wembley. That is icon for us. It's an amazing, you know, stadium. I think it's. I think we deserve Christmas. I think we deserve. And we are going to try, unfortunately. We are going to get in which club? I don't know. I cannot tell you because I don't have a club, I don't own a club. But I think is. We are in our. We are going to. We are now in our best moment. Like a coaching staff in our. Because we're still young. We have energy, we have.
- [77:56]
Interviewer / Host
Are you the best manager you've ever been?
- [77:58]
Mauricio Pochettino
I think so. I think so. I think so. I think I can be better because I think. I think you can improve. But I think today I think we have the capacity and the. The knowledge, the balance to provide to the. You know, to the. Every single or any. Any club or any company. Good, good things, I think.
- [78:24]
Interviewer / Co-host
What is the club that holds the most special place in Mauricio's heart? Mauricio, if you can answer it for Jesus. Which club holds the most special place for him?
- [78:37]
Mauricio Pochettino
The most special. Like a coaches. Like a coach. Because you.
- [78:45]
Interviewer / Host
And turn the boards around.
- [78:48]
Jesus Perez
That's clear. This is very simple.
- [78:53]
Mauricio Pochettino
It's very simple. We will agree.
- [78:56]
Interviewer / Host
Okay. The final, final question. Why Spurs?
- [79:01]
Mauricio Pochettino
Okay. The connection always was. Was amazing with Daniel. When we arrived to feel the trust of the owner of the club like Daniel Levy was make us to feel like I said before, we asked for to create a laboratory there. And he spent money to provide us what we wanted. He trust from the beginning and he support us to arrive where we arrive. And our successful in Tottenham. No winning a game, no win. Sorry, not winning a trophy is complete unfair. Because when we arrive, I think in the way that we have the possibility to create something special in Tottenham with the project that we had ahead that to build a new stadium, to finish the training ground and to create the. The facilities that today Tottenham is one of the best club in the world in terms of facilities. That was because you need the trust of the owner. The trust of the guy like. And the vision that have Daniel to create this and then support and have the patient with us. Because from the beginning wasn't easy. And then people really appreciate our job. And I think the connection was really, really strong. And then of course with all the effort. I think in the way that we build all this history together that we were so close to winning the Champion League or the Premier League because it's not true that we didn't want to win titles like Carabao cup or FAA is. The problem was that we were focusing too many places is to build the stadium is to move to Wembley. We play in Milton Keynes and games. I remember that all the fans moving around and it was really difficult for everyone in the same time. You know very well when that is unsettled that situation is difficult to keep performing with the team. Not too much money to invest in player. If not we were very creative in all these type of situation. I think we were very successful and that. I think we create very good emotions with the fans and that keep in the memories of the. In the way that we play, in the way that we approach the games, in the way that we. I was watching last day in sky the battle of the bridge between Chelsea and Tottenham and what a game amazing. In the way that we play and the way that we care about the club. I see all this as emotional keep. And today I think it's unbelievable because still the people on the street, the fans of the Tottenham really show the love and the appreciation. And I think that is why it's so special. No spurs because we live a moment that when you I was very young coach from Southampton where we came and Daniel really trust in us and give the confidence and the patience for us to provide. You know, to show our quality like a coaches. And that is not too many clubs that can do. And then the fans that really appreciate. It's a little bit. You know, it's a little bit unfair to compare this period with another period. Because it's true that now Tottenham is a club that need to think to win the Premier League and the Champions League because facilities are champion league. And in the past we didn't have that. But now it's about to win the Premier League or Champions League. I think it's true that the fans today appreciate because we were challenging for Premier League and for Champions League to win a Europa League that the team won is good. Because when you celebrate a trophy, that is good, but it's not enough. It's not enough for a club like Tottenham. It's not enough to challenge for the Carabao cup or the FA cup or the Europa League or the Conference. It's a club that should be or need to be. Because the fans, the test of football, what they expect is to be in the Champions League, fighting for the Champions League, trying to believe that you can win the Champions League, and also fighting for the Premier League and believing that you can win the Premier League.
- [83:45]
Interviewer / Host
Well, you love Tottenham. You want to win the Premier League, and Tottenham now have the facilities to win the Premier League. Let's see what the universal energy does now.
- [83:55]
Mauricio Pochettino
We are focusing. Usa.
- [83:57]
Jesus Perez
Exactly.
- [83:58]
Mauricio Pochettino
And we are going for the World Cup.
- [84:01]
Interviewer / Host
Return to the Premier League as World cup winners, and we'd be excited for you. Listen, good luck in the summer. I think the United States national men's team are so lucky to have you both and the team around you, and it's great to see old friends again. So thank you very much for coming so much.
- [84:15]
Mauricio Pochettino
Always a pleasure to be with you.
- [84:21]
Interviewer / Host
Damien.
- [84:22]
Interviewer / Analyst
Jake.
- [84:22]
Interviewer / Host
I mean, what a fascinating conversation with two remarkable men. The first time that we've ever had a manager and a coach together. And I actually think the fact they were here together just provided a little bit of almost like emotional security for both of them to maybe talk more openly than maybe they would have done if they were just on their own with the glare of the lights and the camera on them.
- [84:43]
Interviewer / Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
- [84:43]
Interviewer / Analyst
I mean, what a brilliant description Jesus offered us when we said, what role do you play in Connector?
- [84:48]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah.
- [84:49]
Interviewer / Analyst
First word out of his mouth. Connector. I build relationships. I'm the bridge from Mauricio to the rest of the world. And that's exactly what he did here, wasn't it?
- [84:57]
Interviewer / Host
And I just love the fact that this gives us a chance to meet the people. Not the coach, not the manager, but the people actually understand Maurizio, understand Jesus. I mean, even these lemons being in here, you know, this is an easy thing to laugh at, right, that someone believes that lemons can change the energy in a room. But actually, it's not about the fact that these can change the energy in a room. This gives you an insight into how emotionally connected Maurizio is with his staff, with his players, with himself, how these tiny things make a big difference to him and how he manages, I think, from what he spoke today, more with his heart than his head, you know, or certainly equally heart and head.
- [85:33]
Interviewer / Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
- [85:34]
Interviewer / Analyst
Well, I mean, even the lemons. Like you say, what it does is, it's almost like it's a prompt to get you to think about negative energy because he tells you the story that this absorbs negative energy. So then immediately start thinking, am I giving off negative energy? You start thinking about how you conduct yourself. So he's getting you to start to become more self aware of how you conduct yourself. And then you listen to his levels of self awareness that he has in himself. But what was the thing that stood out when he spoke about these elite players? Cole Palmer, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi. It was the self awareness that they had. You know, that Cole Palmer anecdote of coming in after three training sessions at Chelsea and going, I'm not the level you need. I need to work harder.
- [86:16]
Mauricio Pochettino
Yeah.
- [86:16]
Interviewer / Analyst
That's an amazing level of just being able to look at yourself in a dispassionate way and not make excuses, but.
- [86:23]
Interviewer / Host
To be responsible and also a reminder that they're human beings. He goes home after a big night as the manager of PSG and his own wife asks him why he's taken Messi off. But I thought these the boards that they messed around with at the end here, I've got. I've got Mauricio's, you've got Jesus. There's. I mean, the fact that he's written down he wants to win. They love spurs and Jesus believes that Maurizio wants to win the Champions League in the Premier League. I mean, I think if that's not predicting the future, what is? Because I believe what he says, that Tottenham are ready to win a major trophy, they're a club ready for it. And I just have this feeling that that's really where he sees his future.
- [87:01]
Interviewer / Analyst
Yeah, definitely. But what I took out of it was the absolute sense of certainty that I'm going to achieve this. Yeah.
- [87:09]
Interviewer / Host
I will win the Premier League.
- [87:10]
Jesus Perez
Yeah.
- [87:10]
Sean Linda (Walmart Business Advertiser)
Yeah.
- [87:10]
Interviewer / Analyst
There was no seed of doubt. That's a man on a mission with the confidence to believe he's got the skills and the resources to be able to achieve it.
- [87:18]
Interviewer / Host
Amazing. Well, your lemon went rotten while we were talking, so.
- [87:21]
Interviewer / Analyst
Yeah.
- [87:23]
Interviewer / Host
And what a great conversation. Thank you, mate.
- [87:25]
Interviewer / Analyst
Oh, mate, I loved it. What a privilege.
- [87:27]
Interviewer / Host
Absolutely. And don't forget, if you want more conversations with football managers or people in elite sports sport, then just check them all out here on our YouTube channel. And please make sure that you hit subscribe. Most people that watch these conversations, they don't subscribe. It makes a huge difference to us if you can. So keep on watching, please hit follow, please hit subscribe and come back for another episode of High Performance very soon.
- [88:12]
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- [88:41]
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- [89:14]
Jesus Perez
Quiero life on nuevo yo uno converizion.
- [89:19]
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- [89:21]
Jesus Perez
Intercambio hi termino conversion to familia de fruta mas Pormenos yevo de quatro iPhone 17s hinos con quatro lineas nuevas enciertos Planes Unlimited visitas visit a Verizon punto compara de talles.