Earlier this week, there were reports that Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino had been earmarked as one of the top candidates for the Barcelona job after sharing a meal with Barca supremo Josep Maria Bartomeu. But the Argentine manager has now ruled out the possibility of ever becoming the manager of the Blaugrana side.
He recently revealed that he had too much loyalty to Barca's rivals Espanyol, a club he played for from 1994 to 2000 and 2004 to 2006. The soft-spoken manager also added that he could never manage Arsenal, because they are Spurs' direct rivals in London. He said:
''It was true that there was a coincidence in a bar in Barcelona last Tuesday. I knew him for a long time before he was chairman at Barcelona. Many people say hello and you spend five minutes together. That's the reality.
''I'm an Espanyol supporter. I don't need to speak too much. If Daniel Levy sacks me in a few years and I'm free, it would be impossible to manage Arsenal. In football, it's hard to keep loyal with your heart and emotion but I believe that before being a manager or a player, you should be loyal. I'm an Espanyol fan. I love Espanyol.''
Meanwhile, Spurs travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley on April 1 for their Premier League clash. A win for the Lillywhites will help them solidify their place at the second-spot on the table and absorb the pressure from third-placed Man City who are just two points behind Poch's men.
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