Mauricio Pochettino 'rejected Arsenal approach in 2019'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 27 April 2023

Former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino, set to take over at Chelsea, reportedly turned down the chance to become Arsenal manager in 2019.

Former Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino apparently rejected the chance to become Arsenal manager when the Gunners sacked Unai Emery in 2019.

The 51-year-old is seemingly on the verge of making his Premier League managerial return with Chelsea, who are rumoured to have reached a verbal agreement with Pochettino earlier this week.

The Argentine's appointment could supposedly be confirmed within the coming week, as he thrashes out the finer details of his contract while representing himself in negotiations.

Pochettino's London homecoming will see the former Paris Saint-Germain boss return to the dugout for the first time since being let go by the French champions last summer, despite winning the Ligue 1 title with four games to spare.

Prior to taking the reins at PSG, Pochettino oversaw a hugely positive five-year spell at Tottenham, guiding the Lilywhites to the 2018-19 Champions League final before being sacked only a few months later.

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Mauricio Pochettino on January 23, 2022 © Reuters

Only 10 days after Pochettino left Tottenham, Emery - who had the unenviable task of succeeding Arsene Wenger at Arsenal - was sacked by the Gunners, who subsequently placed Freddie Ljungberg in interim charge.

According to talkSPORT, Arsenal had considered hiring Pochettino to replace the Spaniard and went as far as to approach the Argentine, despite his links with their bitter adversaries.

However, given Pochettino's loyalty to Tottenham - even after being given the boot - the 51-year-old swiftly rejected the Gunners' offer, waiting over a year before taking on his next job with PSG.

In the end, Arsenal turned to former captain Mikel Arteta, prising him away from his role as Pep Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City, and the Spaniard has overseen a remarkable period of progress in the past two years.

Arteta won the FA Cup in his first half-season in charge, but a section of the Gunners' fanbase were calling for him to be sacked following two eighth-placed and a fifth-placed Premier League finish.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts on April 21, 2023 © Reuters

However, Arsenal have unexpectedly mounted a title charge this term with 75 points from 33 fixtures, albeit while failing to win any of their last four and suffering a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Man City on Wednesday.

The champions now sit just two points behind the Gunners with two games in hand, but Arteta's side are guaranteed to be playing Champions League football for the first time since the 2016-17 season next term.

In contrast, Tottenham have been bumped down to seventh place ahead of Thursday's meeting with fourth-placed Manchester United, and they are said to have failed with a bid to bring Pochettino back to North London in 2021 after sacking Jose Mourinho.

Ryan Mason has taken charge of the Lilywhites again following the firing of Cristian Stellini, and Pochettino was linked with a return to Spurs earlier this year, but Daniel Levy is not believed to have made any contact with his former colleague as Tottenham focus their efforts on Julian Nagelsmann.

Ahead of Pochettino's expected appointment to the Stamford Bridge hotseat, Chelsea have endured a torrid time under the tutelage of Frank Lampard, losing each of their five games under the Englishman since his return.

A 2-0 defeat to West London rivals Brentford on Wednesday leaves Chelsea 11th in the table on 39 points, and it is now mathematically impossible for the Blues to finish in the top four.