London is Blue Dispatch #046

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Pochettino first handed Conor Gallagher the captain’s armband for the cup game against Wimbledon. Since the start of preseason, the Argentinian never hid his admiration for Gallagher’s intangibles, repeatedly praising his intensity and application. The young Englishman repaid his faith in kind, proving, arguably, to be the side’s second most consistent performer after Cole Palmer. Then, he crossed the metaphorical line in the sand drawn by those above him and stated publicly he would want the club to extend his deal.

The very next press-conference, Poch was asked his thoughts on Gallagher’s future, and his tune had completely changed. It was a matter between the club and the player, he said. It was bizarre to see how quickly he removed himself from the equation altogether, almost as if someone above him had whispered in ear, reminding him to know his place. The Argentinian, having played the Parisian version of Game of Thrones at PSG, knew better than to upset the wrong people. His falling back into line was telling.

There is, then, something unshakably ominous about the change in Mauricio Pochettino’s demeanour towards the end of his reign. The Argentinian confessed a while ago that he feared for his job after the defeat to Wolves. That result, coupled with a soul-crushing surrender to Arsenal, and something inside him snapped.

A manager who was previously reluctant to turn to a plan B, moved to asymmetrical fullbacks in Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto, used a fullback as a defensive winger to negate a dangerous flank and began making subs earlier than before, lacking the caution he exercised before. Despite Axel Disasi, a signing made by the sporting directors, being fit, Poch benched him for 39-year-old Thiago Silva and Trevoh Chalobah, a home-grown player who the hierarchy has been desperate to move to balance out the holes they burnt in the club’s accounts. Gallagher, still not offered a new deal, retained Poch’s faith and the captain’s armband, playing 50/51 games this season.

Poch’s own players, prominent ones like Cole Palmer, and even peripheral ones like Noni Madueke publicly credited him with personal and collective turnaround. Now, in a press-conference, Poch didn’t just toe the line, he hopped over it and planted his feet deep into the territory of the “other” side – saying out aloud that his position wasn’t just for the hierarchy’s to decide, it was also down to his own will. These actions were a dying man’s two middle-fingered salute to those ready to dig his grave.

In retrospect, Poch seemed more buoyant from the knowledge that he was close to the end of his suffering rather than from optimism stemming from the beginning of a new season. His decision to spurn the victory lap at the end of the season was the final nail in his coffin, but also his final message to a fanbase that has fluctuated between livid and lukewarm and never truly accepted him.

In the end, in all certainty, Pochettino knew it wasn’t worth the hassle. A minor, yet fiercely vocal portion of the fanbase bayed for tactics with a squad that had never played together, and blamed him for an injury crisis that has shot the club to the top of the charts for a third season running. Poch did not see sense in why Gallagher, despite proving key to a 6^th place finish, was primed to be sold for Romeo Lavia, who has played 33 minutes in the league. The realization may have finally dawned upon him that he could never win, because those making botched signings, building a lopsided squad and using him as a ventriloquist’s dummy would never rest until their decisions were reflected in hues of gold.

The irony is not lost upon a few that Pochettino’s best spell has come as and when he promised – after time, after suffering, and after breaking free from the fear of rebellion. The decision will, undoubtedly, have heavier repercussions than what the ownership assume there will be. A meritocracy in which two combative academy graduates have outshone more expensive buys will probably reward them by sanctioning their sale. Should the injury crisis continue, the stadium rebuild stall, disharmony creep in after the cull of popular figures, all plausible outcomes after today, then the same people responsible for a majority of the club’s woes, will hope the army of online clowns can convince you it is all down to the tactics of the new scapegoat. Potter is a fool, Lampard is a fool, Pochettino is a fool. But me, the fan? I, am the genius, don’t you know?

Is it too late to say, be careful what you wish for? Is it too late to write that sometimes, good leaders are just good people – simple, hard-working, setting a humble example to follow. Is a decade of Azpilicueta forgotten this easily? The squad’s burgeoning willingness to fight late into games, and more importantly, for each other, is a value instilled by Pochettino that is far more important than any build up circuits and patterns will ever be. One can only pray those lessons are carried into the reign of whoever dares take the seat.

Thank you, and sorry, señor Pochettino.