Former Premier League manager Ian Holloway would prefer a move to Spurs over rivals Arsenal if he was a young player today.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, the former Blackpool and Crystal Palace boss was asked where he would go if given the choice between the two clubs – which is a similar dilemma to that faced by recent Arsenal arrival William Saliba before the Frenchman opted for the Gunners.
However, 56-year-old Holloway would head in the other direction if given the same scenario – citing Tottenham’s own manager as the main reason.
He said: “If I was a young player right now, I would probably go to Spurs, because of their manager.
“Mr Emery has a fantastic record and is a brilliant manager, but for me there’s something about Pochettino that would make me want to die for him.”
Tottenham may not have won a trophy under Mauricio Pochettino – nor indeed since 2008 – but the presence of the Argentinian, who led Spurs to their first Champions League final last season, would seem enough to sway the attentions of a young Holloway in his prime.
But questions must surely be asked of Pochettino’s credentials after having reportedly lost a double-header of transfer targets to Arsenal in the past week.
Hours before Saliba was announced as an Arsenal player, Dani Ceballos’ loan signing from Real Madrid was confirmed by the team from the red half of North London.
Ceballos was also thought to have been given the same choice by his club of where to play next season – meaning that Spurs were snubbed twice in quick succession.
Pochettino’s pulling power cannot be totally denied with the Spurs boss persuading Tanguy Ndombele to join for a club-record fee – but the lure of Arsenal is clearly still a force to be reckoned with following this double victory over their rivals, despite their lack of Champions League football.
