News came from Hupu on May 18. Just a few days ago, "The Times" went for an exclusive interview with former Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld. He discussed the topic of retirement, mentioned the painful feeling of watching his old club try their best to successfully avoid relegation and then fight, and also discussed the reason why he firmly believes that Pochettino will definitely return again.
Toby firmly believes that Pochettino will return to Tottenham. He feels that one day, Pochettino will return to Tottenham. This is certain. He is eager to return, and the fans are also looking forward to his return. However, I don't know what the board of directors thinks of this. However, I think that when the coach himself and the fans have such a desire, this situation will naturally happen. Because he wanted to come back and finish his unfinished work.
What about Alderweireld? Levy stepped down as executive chairman last September, leaving a void in Tottenham's football leadership and many fans looking to former players with knowledge and experience of the club to fill the void. If Spurs called his number, would he answer?
Yes, indeed. It is for others to determine my ability and suitability for the position, but I will do my best, he said. "I feel I have a good connection with the fans and the club." I know the club, I played there for six years.
If Tottenham need help, I'll be there, why not? I think other partners will feel the same way. We had a great team at that time and that was our strength. If you think about Son Heung-min, Kane, myself, Vertonghen, they are all down-to-earth people with good character. They always put the club first. That's the kind of guy you want to see in your club.
Alderweireld is eager to take on a strategic role, one where he can truly achieve something significant, and he recounts his experience growing up at Ajax. He said that he has always had a good impression of clubs that have players who have played there, because they understand the cultural connotation and the meaning of fighting for the team emblem.
When I was at Ajax, Overmars was there, Edwin van der Sar was there, Cruyff was in every position, and it helps to have people like that in the club – people who are accomplished and who think about the club 100%.
As Tottenham begin their rebuild this summer, Alderweireld will be watching his first World Cup from afar for the first time since 2010. He said that Belgium is not the favorite to win the championship, but given that De Bruyne, Lukaku and Doku are on the offensive end, they should aim to advance to the quarter-finals.
As for England, he explained that they "must reach the final", especially given that they have Kane, who he feels can play until the age of 40. If Alderweireld is in charge at Tottenham by then, perhaps he will bring Kane back to Tottenham. "If he's still at the top level," he said, "why not do this?"