Brave New World: Inside Pochettino's Spurs

by Guillem Balagué

The exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the Mauricio Pochettino revolution at Spurs, told in his own words

Since joining the club in 2014, Mauricio Pochettino has transformed Tottenham from underachievers into genuine title contenders. In the process, he has marked himself out as one of the best young managers in the world, more than holding his own against the Premier League's established heavyweights. He has done so by promoting an attacking, pressing style of football and by nurturing home-grown talent, fully endearing himself to the Spurs faithful along the way.

Guillem Balagué was granted unprecedented access to Pochettino and his backroom staff for the duration of the 2016-17 season, and he has therefore been able to draw on extensive interview material with Pochettino, his family, his closest assistants, players such as Dele Alli and Harry Kane, and even a very rare conversation with Daniel Levy to tell the manager's story in his own words. From Pochettino's early years as a player and coach to his transformation of Tottenham into one of the best teams in England, the book uniquely reveals the inner workings of the man and of his footballing philosophy. It also lays bare what it takes to run a modern-day football team competing at the highest level over the course of a single campaign. The result is the most comprehensive and compelling portrait of a manager and of a club in the Premier League era.

Genres: Football, Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Soccer, Autobiography

352 pages, Hardcover

Published May 8, 2018

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I am not really a Spurs' fan, though I've always had a lot of affinity for them since I was a fresh faced kid. This was mainly because of the brilliant ball playing skills of Glenn Hoddle, his fantastic long passes with either foot...and Gazza would reinforce my affection for the side a bit later on. Nowadays it is pleasing to see young Dele Alli - still considered by countless millions of Nigerians here to be a fellow Nigerian - strutting his stuff for Spurs. This type of book I have always liked too, perhaps my favourite being Bobby Robson's diary (book) on the 1986 World Cup finals. It makes me sour though - more than usual - to realise that such books are thin on the ground, or rather non-existent in Black Africa, so to speak. Take a great football figure like Stephen Keshi for example, you go to goodreads hoping to find some books published on his life and work, but zilch. On the other hand, there are countless books on Beckham for one! And he is not alone; apparently in the western world every kid in sport has book(s) published on them. Maybe even young Rashford has his own biography out now? (Oh, I have inadvertently revealed the club I have supported for decades!) Anyway it is a travesty not to have published books on the likes of African football luminaries like Keshi or Chief Onigbinde... thank God for the great Segun Odegbami, though who has always had literary proclivities. There I go again, always garnering the biscuit for being long-winded. Back to this work, and the current Spurs coach, who always comes across as a nice, amiable congenial man. This book (diary) serves to confirm this. No doubt he has some sort of magic touch with youngsters, making them grow by leaps and bounds; Kane and Alli for example. He generally has good relations with his players, who blossom a lot under him - again, like that young man who plays for Denmark already stated to be world class. I do not want to be unseemly or whatever the word is, but I am compelled to say that really, Mauricio Pochettino must win a trophy or two soon...nobody wants the tag of "nearly man" eh. But a fascinating individual...and brave new work?

[Brendan Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brave New World is an in-depth account of Tottenham Hotspurs’ 2016-17 season. It’s a biography written in the first person and a diary that isn’t really a diary.

Balague was granted unprecedented access to Mauricio Pochettino and his backroom staff for the duration of the 2016-17 season. He uses this insight to craft a biography of Pochettino that charts the remarkable transformation he has achieved in a very short time at Spurs. Perennial bottlers who never live up to their potential, Spurs now are just a few steps (and winning trophies) away from truly belonging among the game’s elite.

The book also serves as a wider biography of Pochettino’s life – detailing his childhood, his career in Argentina, his special times at Espanyol and his move to the English south coast at Southampton. It also discusses in detail his close and vital bond with his assistants who form a vital part of his success.

Pochettino comes across as a passionate, motivated and likeable character. He can but ruthless but for footballing reasons rather than a personal grudge. He is portrayed as being dedicated, at potential personal cost, to doing everything he can to be successful and to forge a Ferguson-like legacy at Spurs.

He is very well attuned to the psychological aspect of football – building incredibly close bonds with his players while still seemingly to keep an appropriate distance to enable him to judge their performance fairly. It’s clear that many of his players love him and see him as a vital part of their own ability to achieve greatness.

The book is a fantastic insight into a manager still very much on the up. It’s a unique approach – putting words in Pochetttino’s own mouth creates great risk for him given he is writing about players still under his charge. The prose and writing style felt like hard work at times – especially until I got used to it. Balague is a very good writer however, so I’m inclined to believe that the style of prose was intentional to read more like Pochettino’s own voice.

Overall I would recommend Brave New World for anyone looking for an insight into one of English football’s most interesting coaches.

You can see all of my sports book reviews at https://allsportsbooks.reviews

[Matt Newsome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent insight into the thoughts and feelings of Pochettino

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, known in the UK for his work for Sky Sports as a first-class analyst of both English and Spanish football, returns with another fantastic book, this time focusing on Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Tottenham Hotspur and previously Espanyol and Southampton.

Pochettino - or Poche, as he is affectionately known - has transformed my beloved Spurs from an underachiever into a real contender, and of course I’m delighted to have seen this as a season ticket holder and lifelong fan. This book charts that transformation, which started in 2014 with his arrival at the club, but with a specific focus on the 2016-17 season which marked his Champions League debut as a manager and a Premier League title race against Chelsea. Poche describes in his own words the journey of that season, with each chapter taking place over the course of a month.

Also in the book are remarkable insights into what goes on behind the scenes at a modern football club - certainly this is the most thorough account of that process that I have ever read - and Pochettino’s reflections on his youth and background, his career as a player, and his entry into the world of football coaching and management. In this way the book is a mixture of diary, biography, and leadership handbook: and in all aspects it is a success.

What’s more, there is a selection of accounts from footballers who have played under Pochettino at the end of the book, including Adam Lallana, Harry Kane, and Dele Alli, as well as a glowing reference from Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. Each contains different stories about their time with Poche, but they all have one very important thing in common: respect, and even, one might say, love for Pochettino and his way of working.

Before this, I thought Balague’s book on Pep Guardiola was the best I had read about a football manager. Brave New World: Inside Pochettino's Spurs surpasses it and is a terrific achievement in the genre.

I can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a Tottenham fan for almost 40 years it was only natural for me to buy this book.

In my opinion Mauricio Pochettino is the best manager we have ever had. He has taken Tottenham from average, lacklustre mediocrity to one of the best footballing teams in the world and on the verge of winning The Champions League, the most prestigious footballing trophy in Europe. A club that was once ridiculed, berated and laughed at, is now, even if rival fans won't openly admit it, admired, and nods of approval and respect can be seen by those same fans in almost every match. All this is down to the man from Murray, Argentina.

This particular book is basically a diary by Poch himself on the 2016/17 season. Initially it reads of his thoughts on the players and their opponents and discusses basic tactics which admittedly, was a little boring to start with because I aready knew most of what was written, but it soon delved into the man himself; his passion for the game, his religious beliefs, his family, his coaching staff and his beloved Espanyol and quickly changed from a three to a four star book. The way he thinks is a practice to be followed by everyone and it definitely opened up my eyes, not only to Mauricio but to certain aspects of life itself; how to treat people despite their backgrounds, as equals, no matter who they are. The last few pages where players and the Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, talk about Pochettino shows just how respected this man is and why he is one of the best and most sought after managers in world football.

I, along with millions of fellow Tottenham fans have lived through the anger, disappointment, frustration and often embarrassment (remember Christian Gross?) of the 80s and 90s. Now I truly believe Tottenham are destined for greatness and for trophies and it is thanks to maily one man. Mauricio Pochettino.

[Abhinav Ka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a Tottenham supporter for over a decade. It would be natural, therefore, if one feels that this review is biased! It is not, trust me! Brave New World is as good as a book on a football club can ever get. The writing style is curious enough - a biography in first person! Guillem Balague has delivered a winner.

Brave New World is a journey through the workings of the mind of the highly regarded Tottenham manager, Mauricio Pochettino. It is not just a commentary on the 2016-17 season of the club, though. Mauricio's growth, as a footballer in Argentina is documented in detail, as is his later career in Europe and his steps into management. A must read for every football fan.

[Edvard Stenersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

lest denne jeg vettu...ålreit bok. mye kul innsikt i hvordan en moderne fotballklubb fungerer og artige anekdoter og greier

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

With such regular access to Pochettino across a season, I was expecting something slightly different. Apparently this idea was suggested to Balague, which I imagine was along the lines of 'Do a Marti Perarnau of Poch please!' and I had anticipated an insight into his training methods and decision-making. Instead it is quite a self-justifying account of a season, written in the first person as the manager, but from a compilation of thoughts from the manager, his assistants and his family.

As a result, there was always the nagging debate of whether this was the manager's thoughts, or an interpretation of his thoughts from someone else. And while there was interesting insight, there were also vague discussions and mini match reports, which did not add anything new. The player who gets most attention appears to be Eric Dier, although Hugo Lloris and Erik Lamela feature quite prominently too, and the manager's views on their best positions and playing style were the most unique aspect of the book. But with Dier and Lloris giving testimonials and being thanked for their input, it's difficult to know how much of it is Pochettino's unprompted thoughts.

The other revealing detail was his belief in spiritual nonsense, with lemon's being put in the room to absorb negative energy, and the refined argument of what was essentially a belief in karma. Although this was prefaced with the assertion he was not superstitious, his unconventional beliefs didn't necessarily tally with this opinion of himself. The lack of blame towards Alli getting himself sent off also makes sense when you consider Poch's teams' 'robust' attitude in games against certain high-calibre opponents.

Sadly, too much of the book was in the realm of unspecific, almost corporate language that diluted the message too far in order to protect his players. This is entirely understandable, but it does leave out quite a lot of potential insight and I didn't feel the better parts made up for it.

[Ankur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave. Honest. Sincere. Words which Pochettino duly admires. And yet, these are words one could very well use to describe him.
Written as a diary, the book outlays one of the iconic season of Spurs last yr, when they finished second and played some of the finest football in Premier League. With this backdrop, it also details Poch’s life: his childhood, his struggles in Argentina, his cauldron days in Espanyol and finally landing up in Southampton and then, the struggling Spurs. I was amazed to see the honesty and candour with which he describes some of the intimate details. For instance, he has sour relations with his siblings, or that the geographical distance, the difference in cultures has placed a unbridgeable wedge b/w him and his parents.
In terms of football, what strikes you is how focussed he is in preparing his team, where every tiny detail is taken into account. Using an adapting, fluid and plastic training program, Poch and his redoubtable team of Jesus, Toni and the rest, are constantly tuning and tweaking to the changing circumstances. He obviously relies on data and modern science but he blends it with an intuitive, 'energy-based' approach. Once he even mentions he can sense auras!
From what I gathered from the book, Poch is not for the short term. No- he wants to forge a Ferguson-like Legacy at Tottenham. In our modern muscular-Mourinho times, with the get-success-quick, instant gratification philosophy, its refreshing to see someone trying to climb the long, hard greasy pole of true success.
As a die-hard Spurs fan, naturally my opinion will be biased. But to all people who are interested in football, leadership and even life, this is a fine read.

[Tom Mcdonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an Arsenal fan , but I admire this coach immensely, football as a whole needs more men like this , extremely well written by Ballague , it gives a insight to Pochettino's Character and philosophy as well as his close relationship with his coaching team who he gives immense credit to , a warm and likeable man who gets the best from his players, an Inspring read, especially interesting is his spiritual side.Great read for coaches and football fans in general, don't have to be a Spurs fan to enjoy this.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pochettino is the best thing that has happened to Tottenham Hotspur in my adult lifetime so it was little surprise that I hugely enjoyed this book and the unique insight into his methods and thoughts. He comes across so well, in fact his entire coaching team do. Loyal, sincere and passionate, dedicated to doing everything they can to be successful. It's no surprise how highly many of his ex-players and colleagues speak of him as well. A brilliant book, and well worth reading by any Spurs fan.

[Revista Panenka]

Después de haber escrito consecutivamente las biografías de Pep Guardiola, Leo Messi y Cristiano Ronaldo, Guillem Balagué pensaba que no iba a ser fácil encontrar el protagonista de su siguiente libro. Fue alguien de su editorial inglesa, Orion, quien le sugirió que escribiera sobre Pochettino. "A veces tienes las cosas tan cerca que no las ves. A Mauricio yo lo conozco muy bien pero el gran público, no. Acepté el reto desde el primer momento". Mauricio Pochettino, y su mujer Karina, también dieron el sí a la propuesta inmediatamente. "Les propuse escribir un diario a lo largo de una temporada en el banquillo del Tottenham en el que se mezclaría lo que me explicase él con lo que me explicaran su familia, amigos, cuerpo técnico, jugadores...". En realidad, con la excusa de un diario, lo que Balagué ha acabado realizando es una biografía (en insólito formato en primera persona). Un mundo nuevo. Diario íntimo de Pochettino en Londres (Contra, 2018) es una transcripción del muy interesante recorrido vital del preparador argentino.

Para Guillem Balagué lo más atractivo de Mauricio Pochettino es que hace las cosas de manera diferente. El periodista barcelonés enfatiza que el técnico argentino de los Spurs tiene la calidad para liderar a la antigua, pero a la vez de una forma muy moderna. "Tiene la esencia de un vestuario argentino de la década de los 90 pero ha sabido adaptarse a la manera en la que gira el mundo actualmente". Pero si hay algo que realmente destaca el autor es la manera en la que Pochettino se relaciona con sus pupilos. Una proximidad que acaba generando que la apertura del futbolista hacia su entrenador y, consecuentemente, un mayor rendimiento en el terreno de juego. "Estar junto a él toda una temporada me ha permitido descubrir una manera de ser y de trabajar insólita en el mundo del fútbol. Con Pochettino no parece que estés haciendo un trabajo, sino disfrutando. Y eso es justamente lo que muchas veces le pasa al futbolista inglés, que desde muy joven le quitan el disfrute por el sufrimiento y aquí es cuando acaban perdiendo la pasión. Pochettino es todo lo contrario. Pochettino logra que los suyos vuelvan a sentir pasión por el juego".

Nueve jugadores del Tottenham disputaron las semifinales del reciente Mundial de Rusia. Esta es la cifra con la que Guillem Balagué resume el impacto de Pochettino como entrenador. "Hablé con Guardiola sobre su impacto en Inglaterra. Me contestó que el que había iniciado el gran cambio había sido Pochettino", reconoce.

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Puedes encontrar esta review en el #Panenka77. Disponible en
tienda.panenka.org.

[readwithkapz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book review:

Firstly, I’m not a Tottenham Hotspur fan. In fact, I support their North London rivals Arsenal (Best team in North London and the whole of London).

Club allegiances aside, having grown up in Tottenham, I thought it would be interesting to read into the insights of one of Tottenham Hotspur’s greatest managers, Mauricio Pochettino.

Being as objective as possible here, I actually enjoyed reading this book. The book is written in a diary style across the 2016-2017 Premier League season.

That being said, the structure of the book is quite jumpy and all over the place. At times you’re reading into Pochettino’s early days at Newell’s playing with Diego Maradonna. Then you’ll be reading a detailed breakdown of the Spurs v Watford match.

Structural inconsistencies aside, the book is a very immersive read. For the most part, it feels as if you are by Pochettino’s side experiencing some of the pivotal moments throughout his childhood, footballing career and managerial career.

Some topics that I particularly found alluring were:

- The sacrifices made by his parents/taking him 2-3 hours to train and play matches in Rosario.
- Playing for Espanyol under the tutelage of Marco Bielsa.
- His initial reluctance to move to Southampton due to his lack of English
- Insight into the style of football Southampton played In 2013-14.
- He talks about how his appointment as Tottenham coach wasn’t exactly a ‘universally popular choice’.
- Psychology behind talking to players and the importance of tone/striking a good balance between being professional but creating a transparent and honest line of communication.
- Fond memories of the Catalan derbies between Espanyol and Barcelona.
- Likening Marcus Edwards to Lionel Messi.
- Mental challenges of navigating a season.
- Tragic passing of Ugo Ehiogu aged 44.

You really get a feel into how meticulous and detailed Pochettino and his staff are. As an Arsenal fan, I do find joy in the fact that Tottenham have yet to win a major trophy since 2008. (We’re in 2023 currently).

That being said, this was a very intriguing read and one which a Tottenham fan or even an avid football fan would appreciate and enjoy reading.

[Samuel Salzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Football is silly in many ways. You have 22 adults running around trying to kick a piece of leather through two posts. Yet, millions of people not only play the game, but even more people watch and follow it religiously.

This book reveals some of the reasons why football, and sport in general for that matter, has captured the passion and imagination of so many of us. The book asks bigger questions than one can expect and provides many interesting answers. It tells the self-narrated story of an Argentinan farmer's son, who left his country to find himself on fields in countries very far away.

This is the first sports book I think I've ever read. I picked it up because it happened to be about my long-time favorite football team, Tottenham Hotspurs. I'm happy that I did pick it up, not only because it provides a glimpse into the mind of one of the greatest coaches of our time, but also because it helps us understand what is required to build belief and confidence in ourselves.

Wonderful book for anyone curious of why so many seem to care about this leather kicking business.

[Avtar Ram Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He's magic, you know, Mauricio Pochettino!"

He may not be at the helm of Spurs any more, but I'll never have anything but respect, admiration and love for Mauricio. He dared us to dream. We played some exquisite football under him, he gave Dele and Harry Kane the push they needed to mould them into what they are, and we put up a fantastic fight to clubs that we always struggled to hold our own against. It was sad to see him go, but I don't think we've seen the last of him at the club just yet.

"Brave New World" provides great insight into his coaching methods, his philosophy and the discipline he wanted to instil in the squad. You can see what he was going for and where we fell short. It's a peek behind the curtains, and while not all the facts are revealed about that great season, there's enough there to be able to put two and two together to understand what went on. Wish there were more "journal" formats like this, would be a fascinating read.

Highly recommended if you're a Spurs fan.

[Colleen Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mauricio Pochettino has been hired as the coach of the US men’s national soccer team. This book is his journal for a year during his coaching the Tottenham HotSpurs. He was born and raised in Argentina and was an outstanding soccer player from the get-go. He progressed to playing professionally and then began to coach. He has such a passion for football and a desire for others to love it too. He is especially good at connecting with his players and being able to bring out the brilliance that lies in them. Reading his story makes me joyful that we now have him for our national team coach. He is not looking for getting better players but in making the ones we have the best they can be. I am very hopeful of our team progress and the ability to compete with the very best when the 2026 World Cup comes around. It will be exciting to watch them grow under Poch’s tutelage. He has achieved success on the highest stage and has brought his team with him to help him build the USNMT.

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them."

I chose to read this book, not because I'm a Spurs fan or a dedicated football fan (a very casual appreciation of the game is what I'd call my interest), but because I was intrigued by the method and strategy of turning around an organisation/team. The book did not disappoint in this respect. I picked up really good tips and thinking behind managing personalities and expectations. Helpful in my line of work (which is the furthest away from football as I can ever imagine). Still. The universality of Pochettino's approach to setting and meeting goals transcends these differences.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than the average football bio, and this is from a longstanding Arsenal fan!
It's not deep to the point of pretentiousness but it definitely looks a bit beyond the obvious "winning attitude, great lads, not meant to be...!" stuff that's usually in football biographies.
Balague does a good job of making you feel situated within Pochettino's viewpoint & persona.
You get a strong sense of him as a person without it feeling too biased, maudlin or hotheaded--he really has zero self-pity or resentment about what might have been (a common, if understandable, flaw in lots of bios in my opinion).

Very enjoyable & the players' own tributes to him are actually quite touching.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read of the thoughts and insights into arguably the best professional football coach on the planet. I support Spurs and I like Pochettino’s affinity and desire to use and bring through young players. Seeing the thought processes he had about certain young players like Harry Winks, Harry Kane and Ryan Mason to name a few, were very interesting, as too was certain training methods, particularly when preparing for matches against the opposition and a particular thing he does relating to that that I would never have thought a manager would do, but it makes certain facets of why youth get their chance under Pochettino so clear. Definitely glad I read this book.

[Sara F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is mainly about a single 2016/2017 season. But, because it’s an insight into Pochettino’s brain, it jumps all over the place. At one point you are in his childhood, then at Tottenham, then at Espanyol..... it shows how different parts of his life affect his decision making and feelings about different events. It took me a while to finish because he talks a lot about his philosophy and inner strength....Ext. The last bit where there are a few dedications is my favorite. It makes him feel more human. The Daniel Levy part is weird given that he just exchanged him for José Mourinho.

[Kristopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the insight presented by Pochettino, both in his professional and in his personal life. He's clearly an emotional-being, which is emphasised by the close bonds he creates with both players and fans alike.

There are a few moments in the middle that drag but otherwise it is a great read for any Football fan, as well as exceptional insight into the world of an up and coming Premier League manager.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Partly a diary of the 2016/7 season, partly a biography of where Mauricio Pochettino came from and his journey to Spurs, including some reminiscences from players he's influenced along the way and a very insightful piece to close by Daniel Levy explaining the project. This is a remarkably revealing and yet humble portrait of a remarkable man. An honest assessment of the season at Spurs, game by game. Wonderful

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not a literary masterpiece and should not be compared to one there were some surprising observations and beliefs about fatherhood, love and friendship. I enjoyed some of the anecdotes from his youth as well the contributions from players and the Spurs Chairman but was disappointed by the bulk of the content, the depth of which - for me - was lacking. I’m left with a good warm impression of the man and hope to meet him one day as I think I’d have something to talk to him about...

[Laura Bradburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a hard one to get into. Because of the strange nature in which it was written, which the author goes to great lengths to explain at the start of the book, it was a little distracting. I found it hard to believe the truthfulness behind what was being written.

Nevertheless, it turned out to be an interesting enough read. It won’t go down as one of the best football books I’ve ever read but if you’re a fan of Tottenham or Poch in particular, it’s definitely worth a go.

[Erlend Bergsagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK.
I am a footballinterested Liverpool-fan.

I am quite interested in football-books and I like Guillem Balagues books from before.
Balague has gotten very close to Pochettino in the 2016-17 season. And gives a fantastic insight.
But you also get Pochettinos history from a young age and up until today in the book.

Pochettino is very honest. Honest in a way seldom seen i sport biographies.
Absolutely worth a read

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible

What an insight into the man as a manager and a human being. Made me respect and admire him even more. Makes me glad I am a spurs fan with him at the helm. The testimonials from Kane, Dele, etc about him are also wonderful. Anyone who is involved with soccer should read this bppk

[Meru · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book for fans of Spurs, or other teams Poch has coached in his career. The details aren’t too revealing, and the contents are clearly filtered to what the author and Poch want you to see and know about Spurs, but there are still interesting little tidbits that made me understand the club and it’s recent years slightly better.

[Mario · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good insight into the mind of an excellent coach. Written as a diary of the season but which would veer off on occassions to his time at Espanyol, Southampton or Argentina. At times I felt it a bit repetitive (which I guess is no surprise when you're dealing with game-training-game-training) but for Tottenham fans I'd highly recommend it.

[Paa Kwesi · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a spurs fan, nothing gave me greater joy than to have an unfettered access to the day to day life and running of my club. This book helped me understand some of the tactical and technical choices of the coach and why we hardly bought players in the transfer market. It shines more light of the journey of Pochettino till his arrival at the Lane and a phenomenal coach he is .

[Logan Mudlo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this one. This came out two years too early. It would've been awesome to read about his unlikely road to the Champions League Final with Spurs, but it was still very cool to see behind the scenes at the club. Poch was my favorite manager to date and its clear why he now has the PSG job. Brilliant man who knows the game of soccer inside and out.