please log in to view this image The initial piece just highlights how Pochettino has been here for eight months, and is working for a club in their 2nd Premier League season since promotion from League One, and mentions some academy products as well as a brief cover of Pochettino. He's asked a range of questions, from asking about how he has found English football as well as asking if he nearly became Sampdoria manager, how to handle Dani Osvaldo, who his idols are and what the targets are for Southampton. Here is the translation as good as I can get it... Pochettino says: - The Premier League is the best tournament in the world. It's a lot better off financially than Italy, and has great passion from the fans. - The fans are more respectful of himself and his project in England than in Italy or Spain, there is less intrusion and the coach can work in peace and quiet without constant scrutiny. - He mentions Cortese's ambition for Southampton to be a major club in the English game. - He says that his project is to keep improving Southampton and he aims to get into Europe before the end of his contract in 2015. - He says he did nearly become the Sampdoria manager in 2012. - His grandparents are from Turin so he has always felt an affinity for Italy and Italian football. - Believes his mix of South American and European footballing experience has benefited him as a coach. - He reminds himself of his home in Argentina on a daily basis by drinking 'mate', a traditional drink made from dry leaves. (Gaston, Dani and Paulo also all drink this) - He says he finds that he shares many principles with Che Guevara. - He thinks that Maradona is the greatest player of all-time and he was lucky enough to play in the same side briefly in 1993. - He cites Marcelo Bielsa as his idol and mentor in football, he learns from him and likes his ideas on how to play the game and win. - His favourite management word is "empathy" and feels it is important to make sure he can relate to everyone at the club. - Thinks he manages to get the most out of Osvaldo because of his understanding on Dani's persona and his use of empathy to make sure he can always perform and feel wanted. - When asked which modern day man he most relates to, he says Barack Obama. He says this is because when Obama won the US Election of 2008, Pochettino was named Espanyol manager. In 2012, when Obama began a second term in 2013, Pochettino was named the Southampton manager. Hope you found this of interest and use... DTLW
