DELE ALLI and Jan Vertonghen paid tribute to Mauricio Pochettino after Tottenham Hotspur SACKED the Argentinian.
Poch, 47, was ruthlessly axed only five months after leading the club to the Champions League final.
Dele Alli has thanked Mauricio Pochettino after he was sacked by Spurs
Jose Mourinho is the bookies’ favourite to take over in north London, with Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe also said to be in the running.
Poch lasted five-and-a-half years at Spurs, failing to win any silverware but making the club a consistent force at the top of the Premier League and in Europe.
However, this season started with a rotten run of form.
Spurs currently sit 14th in the Premier League table after winning just three of their 12 matches so far.
Dele Alli, who became a star under Poch, was the first player to publicly thank the boss.
He wrote on Twitter: “I can’t thank this man enough.
“He’s taught me so much and I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for me.
“Good luck and hope to see you again my friend.”
Jan Vertonghen, who helped Belgium to a 6-1 win over Cyprus, said after that game: “I knew it after the game. It’s part of football.
“It’s never nice to see a manager leave but that’s all I can say I think.
“It’s a surprise for me. The club made the decision and we have to accept this and try to change the situation as quick as we can.
“We have come a long way together and we achieved big things, you can see where we have come from before my time at Spurs.
“We have to be very thankful for what he achieved and I think he brought the club to the next level.
“It’s the first time in my career that the manager of the team has changed so it’s strange for me.
Jan Vertonghen says he was ‘surprised’ at the decisionCredit: AP:Associated Press
“We have to try to work hard and I think there will be a new manager quickly.
“We have to stay together. The team is working so hard to change things and that is not going to change now.
“Spurs are a big club so I think there will be a big manager for us.
“It’s a difficult situation so it needs a couple of days to sink in.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
