Going to give this a listen now - do they serial why now with the book? The timing, with such a current manager doing so well, is a little odd. You’d expect us not to want to rock the boat with anything. Is this all part of a strategy to boost our profile therefore? Or to continue to build the cult of personality around Poch? Who’s idea was it?
Sorry just picked up on this now and you probably have the answer to your questions if you listened to the podcast.
But for those who haven’t listened to it, it doesn’t seem to be anything to do with boosting profiles, nor about a cult around Poch (the very idea that Poch would want to be a cult figure is contrary to everything we know about him imo). Balague being an Espanyol fan has long had an interest In Pochettino and is clearly a fan of his and knew him years ago. Balague had written books on Benitez, Guardiola,and Messi. Then he wanted to write a book on Poch, as recommended by his Spurs supporting publisher. Poch knew him and Poch’s wife said ‘do it’. It doesn’t seem there was any particular motive around timing, it just happened and Poch was happy to do it.
Whilst it’s not an official biography, It seems that everything is good with the club - the book is on sale in the club shop. Levy contributed. Him and Levy get on very well. Why would it be a problem).
The Dier story about his conversation with Mourinho after we played them last season is topical obviously and could be controversial ~ yet it transpires that it was Dier who told the story to Balague (although Balague already knew some of the details before he interviewed Dier towards the end of the season) - so no indiscretion by Poch at all. Dier acknowledges that he had a dip in form at the start of the seaso but ends the season wishing he could play longer and agreeing that he would avoid speak8ngnwith Mourinho in the future. This kind of ties in with the bit if ITK from
@AberYid in the summer about the players discussing transfer rumours in their Whats App group and laughing at the Dier-Utd rumours.
He talks about Poch’s great relationship with his coaching staff and how they are all very close mates.
And a side of Poch that we might not envisage : when at the training ground and he wants to have some time to himself, he hides away in a chair in the corner of John McDermott’s office. If he’s there, you don’t disturb him.
Levy is a fan, he loves his job and Poch has enhanced that. Levy believes Poch is the right man.
The players and Poch and Levy feel that something special is being built - that’s Balague’s impression.
I wanted to read the book anyway but listening to Balague on that podcast has just whetted my appetite even more.