Mauricio Pochettino has distanced himself from Tottenham’s lack of transfer activity, suggesting that his title may need to be changed from manager to head coach.
So far this summer, Tottenham have broken their transfer record to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon, while they have also signed young winger Jack Clarke from Leeds United, where he will return on loan for the coming season.
Having gone the two previous transfer windows without a single signing, a frustrated Pochettino believes he should not be the one held responsible for the lack of arrivals at White Hart Lane.
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“I am not in charge and I know nothing about the situation of my players,” Pochettino said after Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid in the Audi Cup.
“I am only coaching them and trying to get the best from them. Sell, buy players, sign contract, not sign contract — I think it is not in my hands, it’s in the club’s hands and [chairman] Daniel Levy.
“Maybe the club need to change my title and description. My job now is to coach the team. Of course I am the boss deciding the strategy to play, training, in my area, but in another area I don’t know. Today, I feel like I am the coach.”
The Argentine previously saw his job title changed from head coach to manager in 2016 after signing a new contract with the club.
The north London side have also struggled to shift unwanted players this summer. Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and Danny Rose were among those left out of the club’s tour of Asia “to explore prospective opportunities with other clubs” but both are still on Tottenham’s books.
When asked about Rose’s future with the club, Pochettino again insisted it had nothing to do with him.
“I think it’s not in my hands,” Pochettino added. “Only I describe the situation of what happens and I think it’s important for the players and people to know that I am going to be, like I told you before, that I will be happy with the squad that the club are going to provide to me.
“Of course we will give our best. My mood is always the same and my emotional balance is always similar. I am emotional, but I am a person like everyone that thinks a lot.
“Only I describe the situation to make clear that if you have some questions that I am not the person that is going to answer what you want.”