By Raoul Zayas, reporting from the UK
I originally planned on using this article to discuss things at the bottom of the table (who is going nowhere except to relegation and the second division, etc.). Then, when Liverpool emphatically beat Manchester City 3-1 to increase their lead over the defending champs to 9 points, I figured that would be the theme of this article. Well, I was wrong twice. The EPL is full of twists and turns, and sometimes the biggest surprises occur off the pitch (that's what a "field" is called in the UK). So, I think I finally have the subject of my article.
Last season, the careers of two managers couldn't have been different. Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese master of mind games and a coaching legend at Porto (Portuguese top league club), Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid found himself in a dismal situation at Manchester United. It seemed he and the club were going nowhere; two "legends" in world football constantly clashing heads. Mourinho appeared to have lost the locker room while Man U constantly and consistently underachieved. Midway through the season he was out of a job.
Last season, Mauricio Pochettino was in his 4th season at north London club Tottenham Hotspur, where the club hadn't played a meaningful match for hardware in quite a long time. The young Argentinian seemed a great fit for the club. Each year, Spurs had improved under him, finishing in the Top 4 and playing in Europe's Champions League three straight seasons. Things got even better last year when Pochettino led the club to their first ever Champions League final. Although Spurs lost that final, 2-0, to Liverpool, Pochettino and his club seemed destined for greater things. A full season in their new state of the art stadium would surely add to the excitement for Hotspur fans.
Only 6 months after that Champions League final, Tottenham find themselves in a very bad way. After 12 matches into the EPL season, Spurs are in 14th place with only 3 wins. Their first ever Champions League match at their new stadium ended in horror as German champs Bayern Munich pounded them 7-2. What had happened to Pochettino's mojo?
Last night (19 November), Pochettino was sacked. He now shared Mourinho's current status as a former manager looking for a job. This morning (20 November), Spurs hired Mourinho as Pochettino's replacement. Thus, the EPL season took another twist as the two managers changed places in their footballing careers. Is it really a surprise? Mourinho was going to be hired somewhere; he's too big a name (and still too young at 56) not to be coaching. Pochettino was losing faith at Spurs while rumors had him going to Real Madrid or even Manchester United after last season's nearly successful Champions League run. Who knows, he may end up at Manchester United as Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has really yet to improve Man U after Mourinho's firing last year. Man U was 7th at the time of the manager change, ended the season 7th under the new manager, and are currently 7th in the EPL. Surprises in the EPL may continue but what isn't a surprise is that the EPL is full of astonishing news week in and week out. Meanwhile, LFC continue to win under German Jurgen Klopp, only dropping 2 points in 12 matches (11 wins and 1 draw). Is anyone surprised?
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