Gus Poyet won trophies with Chelsea and Zaragoza as a player, managed across four continents and has plenty of opinions on the game.
We sat down with him at the end of a Premier League season that had everything: a title race going to the wire, a giant fighting relegation, and one of the most scrutinised managerial appointments in recent soccer memory.
With the World Cup weeks away, he had plenty to say.
Key Takeaways
- Missing European football could work in Xabi Alonso's favor, giving him the training time he had at Leverkusen to build his system
- Poyet questions Daniel Levy's awareness of Spurs' struggles, asking where he was when the club came close to relegation last season too
- He separates Arsenal's quality on the pitch from the environment around it, calling out corner kick tactics and goalkeeper time-wasting as deliberate and coached
- France are his tournament favorites, England are a genuine outside shout, and Brazil under Ancelotti are worth keeping an eye on
- He expects around 15 group stage matches that nobody will watch and believes money is driving FIFA's decision to expand the tournament to 48 teams
What did you make of the FA Cup Final?
Gus Poyet: "I thought it was boring. I saw only the highlights because I was travelling at that time. Chelsea's plan for the game was to stop Man City, more than to play their own game.
"I always say that the plans are good enough when you win. When you don't, they don't matter either way. But I think it was difficult for Chelsea with everything they went through in the season.
"So, you never know why one team is better on the day – whether it ends up being wild, like a 4-4, or decided by a single goal. So, it's a decision that you need to make.
"But obviously, I think it makes the season feel sad. Because you started in July with a trophy in the Club World Cup. And from then on, it was getting worse and worse. Change of coach, change of coach again. Too many rumours going around. So, it was kind of a season to forget, really. Talking about Premier League, international games and cup games – better to finish as soon as possible."
Chelsea could miss out on European football. How big an issue is that?
GP: "I'm going to say something really terrible. And I'm not afraid of saying it. For the manager, it's better.
"For Xabi Alonso, it's better. Because he gets more time to work during the week. When you start playing every week, you don't have time to embed your system properly.
"Exactly what he did at Leverkusen. The team needs time. And the time that not playing European football gives you between weekends is invaluable.
"Through the years, you try different ways to improve a team playing every three days. But you need a very special group of players. Players who can learn through video and meetings, not just through repeated training sessions. It's a different kind of learning.
"When you have week-to-week games, then you have time. Then you can really properly train. You can do things differently.
"So, from the club, financially it would be tough. From the manager's point of view, I think it would be fantastic for Xabi. I know he would like to play in the Champions League, don't get me wrong. But sometimes from bad things, somebody gets good opportunities. And for the coach, it's better."
What do you make of Xabi Alonso as Chelsea manager?
GP: "I'm delighted with the agreement. I'm really, really happy that Xabi is coming there. I don't know him personally, but I do remember when I saw him playing.
"As a player, he understood the game in an incredible manner. Sometimes you kind of know which players can be coaches. He was one of the players that you would say, 'he's going to be a coach.'
"But the understanding of the game that he had as a player, playing in different teams, different systems, different identities, and always contributing something very special from the middle of the park, gave me the impression he would be a very good coach.
"So, when he went to Leverkusen, I was not surprised. But I was surprised about the result. I didn't expect him to win the league in Germany his first season.
"Then he went to Real Madrid in a very difficult time. That happened to me at Real Betis. It's pretty similar. Sometimes you say no and then go anyway. You don't regret it, but you wonder if you could have waited a little longer. But it's Real Madrid.
"So, now we have an opportunity to rebuild a team and make it play in a certain way. That is very important for Chelsea nowadays."
Should Chelsea have tried for Mourinho?
GP: "It's a good question. It's difficult because I think with Mourinho, you need to know the characters you have in the dressing room. Depending on the characters you have in the dressing room, you can say, bring Mourinho. If you don't? I don't know. I love Jose and I thought he was a Chelsea legend forever. But it's more about the players, not about him.
"I think with Xabi Alonso, it's an opportunity to build something different with the characteristics of the players. And maybe adding to the team properly. So, it's a different kind of approach. I think Chelsea were more drawn to that – the experience, the character, the passion and the connection with the fans. They went for a coach that wants to build something with their identity. So, we'll see."
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What do you make of De Zerbi's start at Spurs?
GP: "Well, I think it was good to know that he was able to change things around – better than, for example, Tudor and Thomas Frank. Somehow they got those victories and have been put in a better situation. They need one more point.
"He's got two games to get a point. I mean, if you asked me this three weeks ago, I would say, sign him, get him! Because I couldn't see them winning a game. So I think it's very good – for the club and for him personally, because he committed long term. And I'm sure everybody wants Spurs in the Premier League. Apart from the Championship teams – they would love Spurs in the Championship!
"I think I'm going to say something brutal. It's more about the Chelsea players than the Tottenham players on Tuesday. It's how Chelsea is going to play on Tuesday.
"I think we should know how Tottenham are going to play. Because even on Sunday, West Ham lost. They showed real fight and went to the end. So Tottenham, I suppose, is going to be at that level of intensity. Chelsea? Somebody knows. I don't.
"So luckily, it's a derby. I'm sure that the fans are going to put pressure on the Chelsea players to go and win this game. And we can see a very, very good London derby. But it's important that Chelsea players really perform, especially in this game. The last one, I think, is against Sunderland. But this one, they need to do well."
Which players have stood out in De Zerbi's turnaround?
GP: "I'm pleased that he decided to play Palhinha and Gallagher in the middle, with Bentancur. From the point of view of fighting relegation, a team who is fighting relegation needs those kinds of characters – though Bentancur was injured.
"But Gallagher and Palhinha, in my mind, and with all respect to the coaches, we are different. In relegation you need people who are going to battle, people who are going to run, people who are going to tackle.
"OK, you need a few that can play a little bit. Fair enough. But you get away from relegation fighting, not playing beautiful football. So these three in midfield for De Zerbi, I think they were key. Or they were key until now, and we'll see what happens next."
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Can Spurs stay up? What happens if they go down?
GP: "Now yes. Two weeks ago it was 'I don't know'.
"Oh, it would be terrible. It would be terrible. They have the best stadium in the country, one of the best training grounds, and big names in the squad. It would be terrible. It will only be good for the Championship and the rest of the teams. But for football, it's not.
"This is not an accident. Last year, they were 17th. So it's not like it's one season off. It's two seasons off. So, be careful."
Daniel Levy said he could never imagine Spurs in a relegation fight. What do you make of that?
GP: "He was not the chairman the year before? Where was he the season before, in Australia? I don't know! Maybe he was in Australia.
"When you are in a relegation battle, you are in a relegation battle. And it was two years in a row. Last year, because they were three points from the bottom, they were awful and somehow still got away with it. This year, it goes to the last game. Or they will maybe go to the last game.
"Because remember, if Chelsea wins tonight, you go to the last game.
"People don't understand – in football, you can work all week, have all your players being spectacular. You start the game, long ball, someone gets a red card, you're down to 10, and you're going down. It doesn't matter what the plan is. It doesn't matter who you are. So, be careful.
"It looks to me that Daniel, with all respect, has not been watching Spurs in the last two years."
Will Arsenal win the league, or is there still a twist coming?
GP: "Well, in football, everything can happen. I thought, a few weeks ago, that they would go on and win it this year because there was no chance they would lose that quantity of points. Then they did, and then they came back again because of the games at Everton and Man City.
"Now, I think it feels like, subconsciously, nobody wants Man City to win the league. They want a change. And I don't like that. I don't like that. I think you need to win the league. You need to deserve to win the league.
"I'm not saying there are no fair witnesses, but this year is going to be remembered for all the stupidity in the corner, and rules that will have to be changed as a result. For all the cheating, all the grabbing and blocking and not playing the ball.
"Also, I saw three or four times, the goalkeeper going down without injury for the players to go and talk to Arteta – like you have a timeout, like in basketball. And then they blame certain players for going down in a penalty. That is cheating. That is prepared.
"Arsenal deserve to be where they are because they play. And you have to give credit to Arteta and the players. 100%. That has nothing to do with what I'm saying. But the rest – it's like everything is set for Arsenal to win it. Or even more, like I said, for Man City not to win it. They don't want that dominance forever. It's not good for the Premier League. And I don't like it."
Uruguay faces Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde and Spain. How far can they go?
GP: "There have been too many issues outside the pitch. Too many rumours with the coach, too many small issues. I hope that when they get together, the players settle down. For sure, we're going to get through the group stage.
"From what we know, if we finish second in our group, we could face Argentina, assuming they top the other group, which would already feel like a final. End of the world for Argentina, not for us. Because if we go that way and we lose against Argentina, it's Messi, playing in America – I don't want to say anything else.
"So, it's more complicated for Argentina to lose against us than for us to lose against Argentina. We know that if they need to pick one team from our group to face, they are not going to pick Uruguay. For sure.
"So, we'll see. I would like to see us settle down all the external pressures, rumours and bad things, and just concentrate on football and perform at the best level."
Who wins the tournament? Give us a favorite and a dark horse.
GP: "I like France. I really like France. I think Argentina is going to be there, in terms of what I said about Messi, MLS and America.
"I think that Spain has a very good way of playing football, which is different to most. That gives you an extra bit.
"For the first time, I see England in a different way. I think England isn't just 'names' anymore. It's a team. And if everybody fits, I think that Tuchel can make a team difficult to play against. They've got a little bit of everything. They have pace. They have quality. They're physical. They understand each other. And they are all humble and hungry to go and do well for England. So that could be interesting.
"And a dark horse? It's difficult. But before the last World Cup, if you'd asked me about Morocco, I would have said no chance. And then they were a big surprise.
"I've got a feeling that Brazil is going to do well. Only because of Ancelotti. He's not a dark horse because of Brazil, but nobody's really talking about Brazil. And when Ancelotti is there, be careful."
What players are you most looking forward to seeing at the World Cup stage?
GP: "The problem is that I am not a fan of this World Cup. I don't think there should be 48 teams. I think the World Cup is only for the best.
"I think at the start, there are too many games for no reason – and the World Cup is there to be watched. You want to sit down and watch the games. With all respect, in the group stage there are probably 15 matches that nobody will watch. And that's not good for a World Cup. The World Cup should have full stadiums every game. For that, you need 24 or 32 teams maximum. In every game, there should be a top team.
"Now, FIFA, money, sponsors – they are more important than football, fair enough.
"When you play in different countries, it's not the same World Cup. Temperature, time zone. Maybe you are playing on one side of the country and then the other side. It's the World Cup. And again, we come back to the same thing. Why? Money. When money is above the game, what can you expect?
"I've got so many people saying to me: I won't watch anything until July 1st, when they are ready for the last 16. That is terrible. The time difference between Europe and the games, when you're going to play and what time they're going to play them."
And the players you're looking forward to watching?
GP: "I really want Harry Kane to have a good World Cup. I think he deserves that.
"For me, a year ago the best midfielder in the world was Bellingham and now they are killing him for whatever reason. I would like him to be part of the squad – I don't know if they'll play him, but I hope he's part of it.
"I'll go with those two English players.
"And maybe Mbappé- he's a player who's an easy target to criticize. I think people should look at him as a football player and leave him alone. Nowadays, apparently if you're a football player you cannot have a famous girlfriend, or you can't have a weekend off if you're injured. You have to do what people think you have to do. The rest of the world is the same. If he doesn't perform, fair enough. But if you score 35, 40 goals…I'm sorry, I think you're making a mistake.
"So I'd like him to have a good World Cup as well."
