Cold Feet Elite

Mauricio Pochettino's strange comments this week after being eliminated from both domestic cup competitions have come under fire from commentators and pundits, and quite rightly so.  He said that winning trophies only build egos

latest data shows that it is Juventus who is now dropped to #11 and not at #9.  How rich then does Tottenham want to become while developing that wealth on the basis of squeezing investment on the actual product on the field by squeezing wages and not investing in talent that can bring a winners mentality to the club.  That is what makes Pochettino's comment about ego so perplexing to understand.

When Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to his players to attain over 30+ major titles in his tenure, he told his players to ELIMINATE their ego in order to become winners as a TEAM. He did not see any relationship between having too much ego and a champions mentality - it was the exact opposite - he threw out ego's that got too big for the boots out of the club.  He managed ego's so players focus was totally on the greater good - and that good is what is most pleasing for fans.

For sure the Billion dollar industry that professional football has become can become indifferent about fans and comments about not being ready and limiting expectation is a much louder message to fans that will have them question why they are then buying those season tickets, or attending matches or buying merchandise or watching them on television (which in turn brings in billions of dollars now).  When a club is clearly moved in an elite Top 10, then why talk about that club as if it is still developing?  Such talk is cheating fans from the very experience that makes them support the club in the first place, especially when these low expectations were the norm for decades.

So the executive at Tottenham need to seriously consider what the word "elite" means - and start focusing on what elite means as an elite team in the world.  Manchester City may have the finances of the country of Qatar behind them, but they are not managing football operations with less focus on the expectations of success on the field and the team focus.  Like Tottenham they have built some world class facilities but unlike Tottenham they know that success on the field is what drives success that ultimately drives them closer to teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United.

The poor relative performance in recent years for Manchester United have led them to lose 1st place in the Global Elite as Real Madrid regain that status as the World's richest football club - but that is why Manchester United are seeking to prize Pochettino away from his loyalty to Tottenham Hotspur.   Yet if Pochettino see's his success as staying in the Top 4 but not having won a single trophy in his managerial career - then what are Manchester United thinking.  What will happen then to Pochettino if he joins Manchester United but has a bad start, then what he said today comes home to roost. 

Maybe those words he used are just a reaction in the moment, but if seeks to be the worlds best manager, whether Real Madrid or Manchester United want him as their manager, then there is something major to learn this week.  It does not matter if Spurs lost in a semi-final or were eliminated in the 4th Round of the Cup, what matters is the projection of leadership and this week, that is what Pochettino has confused - he must realize the full measure of his words and how the story of success is actually written.  Words have power and expectations define the shadow cast by that leader. 

"