Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino fails to play down speculation over Real Madrid switch

The Tottenham boss is on the radar of the Spanish giants having impressed with his work in north London

Pochettino is a firm fan favourite at Tottenham but he is under pressure to end their decade-long trophy drought this season (Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino has failed to play down talk that he could be lured away from Tottenham should Real Madrid come calling.

The Tottenham boss is on the radar of the Spanish giants having impressed with his work in north London.

Real Madrid are big admirers of the Argentine and his stock only rose after his Spurs side finished above the Spanish club in their Champions League group stages this season.

Real boss Zinedine Zidane is once again under pressure to save his job after Wednesday’s shock Copa del Rey exit to Leganes. Real are also 19 points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga.

Pochettino, who will be well in Real’s sights should Zidane be sacked, insists he is totally committed to the north Londoners but, tellingly, refused to kill off talk that he could be lured away in the future.

“I’m never going to be a manager of Barcelona or Arsenal as I’m so identifiable with Tottenham or Espanyol,” said Pochettino.

“I grew up with Newell’s Old Boys and I’m not going to manage Rosiario Central. I’d rather go and work in a farm in Argentina.

“I think my commitment to this club is massive. Always I work like I want to be here for the rest of my life.

Pochettino said he would never consider coaching the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal (Tottenham Hotspur FC) (Getty)

“That is my responsibility, how I take my job. The way I work is like thinking I’m going to stay forever in the same club. It’s the best way to commit to your job.

“I’m working to be here forever but like a player you never know what’s going to happen in football. The chairman can change his mind and say out.

“Tomorrow Daniel Levy could say Mauricio ‘I’m going to sack you.’

“I’m realistic. In England from the beginning of the season to today there has been many changes in the Premier League on the bench.

“I will look stupid saying I’m not going to work in one place. You never know as football is so unstable. It was different for Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

Manager Zinedine Zidane is under pressure at Real Madrid (Getty)

“They were the symbol of the club – they had full control of everything and could decide if they would stay two more years, one more year or retire.”

Pochettino is a firm fan favourite at Tottenham but he is under pressure to end their decade-long trophy drought this season.

The north Londoners might still be in the Champions League but their hopes of challenging for the Premier League title have vanished.

And Pochettino has begun to show signs that he could be feeling the heat.

The Argentinian took a swipe at Wenger after hitting back at suggestions by his opposite number that Arsenal are judged by different standards to the likes of Tottenham.

Pochettino has hit back at Wenger over his comments (Getty)

“For me he is a special manager,” added Pochettino.

“But everyone sometimes makes a mistake and for me he made a mistake to talk about us or a different team.”

Tottenham head to League Two Newport in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round and Pochettino, who has welcomed Toby Alderweireld back into training after a long-term hamstring injury, added: “I think it was important for our fans, for us to win because you build your own history and your name will always be there.

“It’s a very important thing to win trophies, massive, and we wish and we hope that one day we can provide to the club one two or many trophies.”