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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is unsure if reuniting with former club Tottenham Hotspur will feel like bumping into an ex-girlfriend because he cannot remember having one.<\/p>\n
Pochettino enjoyed five full seasons in charge of Spurs between 2014 and 2019 but is poised to return for the first time as manager of one of their fiercest rivals.<\/p>\n
The Argentinian, who believes Tottenham are genuine Premier League title contenders this term, is uncertain how he will be greeted by home supporters on Monday evening.<\/p>\n
Yet he insisted a negative response would not tarnish his memories as he laughed off an analogy referencing his love life.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goodness,\u201d he replied with a hearty chuckle when the situation was compared to meeting a former girlfriend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult because I think I am nearly 32 years with my wife and I don\u2019t know even if I had a girlfriend before my wife.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s difficult to answer that question because I don\u2019t know how you can feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pochettino led Tottenham to a second-placed Premier League finish in 2017 but was unable to end their long wait for silverware and was sacked five months after reaching the 2019 Champions League final.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the reception he expects, the 51-year-old continued: \u201cI\u2019m not going to say nothing at the moment because until Monday we cannot guess what is going to happen then.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing is people know that we cannot forget all that we lived together, amazing memories there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am going to respect the people, how(ever) they are going to express, but it\u2019s not going to change my emotion, my view, my feelings about a club that I think we spend an unbelievable journey (with).<\/p>\n
\nIt’s difficult because I think I am nearly 32 years with my wife and I don’t know even if I had a girlfriend before my wife. That’s why it’s difficult to answer that question because I don’t know how you can feel<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201c(It is) really special because I am back after four years in a place that we have amazing memories, we created amazing memories together. I think it\u2019s special, I\u2019m not going to lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Chelsea are languishing in mid-table 10 games into the campaign, unbeaten Tottenham top the table under Ange Postecoglou.<\/p>\n
Pochettino feels the north London side are capable of remaining in that position and ending the season as champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I think so,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnge and the coaching staff, they are doing a fantastic job and then of course very good players, very good team. You can feel they can be a contender.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course it\u2019s early in the season but they are showing the quality to be contenders.\u201d<\/p>\n