Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino insists returning to former club Tottenham will be a special but strange moment when the two teams clash on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.
Pochettino enjoyed five full seasons in charge of Spurs between 2014 and 2019 but is poised to return for the first time in four years as manager of one of their fiercest rivals.
The Argentine helped transform the north London side into perennial top-four contenders, leading them to a second-placed Premier League finish in 2017, while also guiding them to their first Champions League final in 2019 when they finished runners-up.
Spurs and Pochettino never bounced back from that loss and he was sacked in November 2019, eventually joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 before taking over Chelsea last July.
"It's special to come back after four years to a place we have amazing memories," Pochettino said.
"We created amazing memories together. I think it's special, I'm not going to lie."
Pochettino, who believes Tottenham are genuine Premier League title contenders this term, is uncertain how he will be greeted by home supporters on Monday evening.
Speaking about the reception he expects, the 51-year-old continued: "I'm not going to say nothing at the moment because until Monday we cannot guess what is going to happen then.
"The most important thing is people know that we cannot forget all that we lived together, amazing memories there.
"I am going to respect the people, however they are going to express, but it's not going to change my emotion, my view, my feelings about a club that I think we spend an unbelievable journey with."
Spurs have had four permanent managers since Pochettino's departure and when asked if the Argentine had ever thought of returning
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