Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino is open to a return to the Spurs dugout (Image: Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino admits he is ready to return to the Tottenham dugout one day as his Chelsea side prepare to face his former club.

Spurs host the Blues on Monday evening in an important Premier League match for both London clubs.

It is also of great importance for Pochettino, who returns to the team he led for five years for the first time since his dismissal in 2019.

The Argentine has a close bond with Spurs and his fans and has been closely linked to his old job on two occasions, most recently earlier this year following the sacking of Antonio Conte.

The Lilywhites eventually hired Ange Postecoglou, while Pochettino moved to Stamford Bridge to manage Tottenham’s bitter rivals.

Given that, it seems unlikely he will ever return to North London, but the 51-year-old hasn’t ruled it out, saying: “Why not?”

“Hopefully I can stay here for 20 to 25 years until I die, but you never know what will happen tomorrow. I’m 51 and I think more about enjoying today and not looking too much into the future, but you never know.

Mauricio Pochettino managed Spurs from 2014 to 2019 (Photo: Getty)

“It’s definitely a club when I’m not working, and if they ever want me, why not?”

There are actually many managers who have coached both the Blues and Spurs, with Pochettino, Conte, Jose Mourinho, André Villas-Boas and Glen Hoddle having done so in the Premier League era.

While some Chelsea fans may not like it, Pochettino has stressed that he doesn’t want to pretend he doesn’t like Tottenham, although he is obviously determined to win the match, especially with the Blues in 13th place. Table.

“We should be natural, not fake.” “I don’t want to be a hypocrite and say something I don’t feel,” he added.

“I can’t just say I’ve forgotten all these things. That would seem stupid. I just stay natural and enjoy a great game. I want to win. I want to hit her.

“It’s important because Chelsea need a win and we don’t need the points because it’s against Tottenham. It’s nothing special. “I’m not going there because I think it’s about revenge.”