Is Mauricio Pochettino about to walk out on Tottenham?

I never thought I’d say this, but time could be running out on Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Tottenham Hotspur. 

As staggering as that may sound, things are unravelling quickly at the north London. Players are questioning selections and tactics, which leads to the question of whether the gaffer has lost the locker room. If he has, the writing may already been etched on the wall.

While slightly despondent in the aftermath of the Bayern loss, Pochettino didn’t show the kind of emotion one would expect from a humiliating defeat of that nature. No English team has ever been beaten so handily at home in the history of European competition. And while one match doesn’t tell the entire tale, it felt like this type of defeat has been coming.

Pochettino’s demeanour made it feel like he was consigned to throw in the towel. There was no discernible anger, no outburst of frustration. Of course everybody handles embarrassment differently, but it felt like Pochettino may have lost the desire that has always burned bright.

Other than an impressive display against Crystal Palace and a resilient performance at the Etihad, the start of this campaign has been, although tough to admit it, an unmitigated disaster. Out of the Carabao Cup and facing an uphill battle in the Champions League, Spurs are in a precarious position. Spurs sit in sixth place in the Premier League and are already 10 points back of leaders Liverpool, further compounding Pochettino’s misery.

While not irretrievable, a quick turnaround is needed for Tottenham to accomplish what they set out to at the start of the campaign. This beleaguered start was unfathomable after a promising summer season which came on the back of soaring all the way to last season’s Champions League final.

If Pochettino feels he no longer inspires and motivates his team the way he used to, his time is finished at the club. As one of the world’s best man managers, his ability to motivate and get the most out of his players acts as his competitive advantage. Without that intangible asset, he loses his ability to galvanize. And without that, he’s lost.

Hopefully I’m jumping to conclusions, as nobody wants to see this golden era come to an end. But let’s get one thing clear, nobody is bigger than the club, not even magical Mauricio. Spurs will not fire their coveted manager, but he may decide to move on to a new project, something he’s admitted to being intrigued by for the better part of two years.

Let’s see if the players come out fighting on the south coast on Saturday. Because if they don’t, the Messiah’s days in north London could very well be numbered.