Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs frustration is understandable, says Jamie Redknapp

Jamie Redknapp feels Mauricio Pochettino is entitled to feel frustrated by a lack of ambition at Tottenham and insists he has not been helped by the “embarrassing” delays over the opening of their new stadium.

Pochettino has said he has the “worst feeling” of his Tottenham tenure ahead of their Monday Night Football meeting with Manchester City, insisting Spurs are still some way short of being genuine Premier League contenders despite their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Poch: My worst feeling at Spurs
Pep: I was wrong about Spurs

Pochettino hinted that Tottenham’s failure to sign any new players during the summer showed they are “not completely focused on winning titles” – and former Spurs midfielder Redknapp agrees.

‘Pochettino frustration understandable’

“It felt like this was Tottenham’s big opportunity this year, so I get his frustration,” Redknapp told Sky Sports. “To be the only Premier League team not to sign a single player in the summer did not make any sense at all. No team is perfect, so why would Tottenham be any different?

“They have got to be careful because they are so lucky to have Pochettino and every club in the world would want him. He has kept it all going and got them on a good run in the Premier League when other managers might have thrown in the towel.

“Spurs don’t want a situation where they have an unsettled, unhappy manager, because if he was to go, that would be an opportunity for a lot of the players to go as well.

“The club need to keep him happy and satisfy his ambition, but not by doing anything special. I’m not saying they need to go out and spend £200m or £300m, but they have to deliver what they say they are going to deliver. If he wants something, give it to him. He’s special.

“There is a lot of negativity around the club now which is not needed. This should be the most exciting time in Tottenham’s history with the new stadium, but the delay is embarrassing as much as anything.

“I know some things are out of their control, but if you’re going to move into a new stadium, you have to be ready.

“Pochettino is a perfectionist. Everyone I’ve ever spoken to who has worked with him says that his attention to detail is unbelievable, so little things like this are bound to irk him.

“The start they have made is so impressive given the circumstances, but it doesn’t surprise you with this guy. I don’t think they are quite as sharp or as quick to the ball as last season, but they are still doing very well and that owes a lot to Pochettino.”

‘Man City might be nervous this season’

Tottenham face a daunting test against Manchester City, who will be eager to return to the top of the Premier League table, but Redknapp believes Pep Guardiola’s side will find this season far tougher than last year.

“I’m not sure City are quite as good as last year and think they are probably a bit nervous,” he said.

“Last year, they blew everyone else away. They were a far better team than anyone else, but this year you get the feeling that it could be different.

“Liverpool are after them, you can feel that, and Chelsea have been a really pleasant surprise too.

“I think it’s great news for the league. I felt it might be a two-horse race between City and Liverpool but now we have Chelsea in the mix as well.

“I’m sure Pep is looking at it thinking winning the league this year would be a much bigger achievement than last year. I’m really looking forward to seeing who they get on against Spurs.”

‘Hoddle has played a big part in my life’

Redknapp also paid tribute to Glenn Hoddle, who is responding well to treatment but remains in serious condition in hospital after he suffered a heart attack at BT Sport’s studios over the weekend.

“Glenn has played such a big part in my life,” he said. “As a kid growing up, I always wanted to play football like him. I never quite got to that standard, unfortunately, but he was a big role model for me.

“When Tottenham wanted to sign me as a schoolboy, Glenn was still playing there. They let me have a training session with him and I’ll never forget it.

“Standing there, chipping balls to the greatest technician and greatest passer of the ball we’ve ever had in this country was an amazing experience for me at that age.

“Later in my career, Glenn was always so good to me with England, and the reason I signed for Tottenham in 2002 was because I wanted to work with him. It meant so much to me that he liked me as a player.

“My Dad took him as his assistant manager at QPR, and he was working with him when it happened on Saturday, too, so he was shaken up this weekend as well.

“Glenn is a great football man but also a special person. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery. I can’t wait to see him back on our screens soon.”

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(c) Sky News 2018: Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs frustration is understandable, says Jamie Redknapp