Pochettino and Arteta Praise Each Other and Contradict Each Other

Pochettino, now manager of Chelsea, spent a long time at Parc des Princes, and Arsenal manager Arteta joined him for one season in the French capital. The two became friends, as they both shared during the press conferences. Pochettino said, 'These are wonderful memories. He is part of my family,' the Argentine explained. In what way?

'From the day he arrived in Paris, we hung out together, and so did our families. We lived close to each other; it was a great time. What he is doing now doesn’t surprise me at all because he was already a coach when he was seventeen. Believe me, his judgment was very good. And he is still young and getting better every day. He could become one of the best managers in the world,' Pochettino praised.

Arteta also has good memories of that year. 'It was the first time I played at a professional level in Paris. We lived together in a hotel for three months. He was critical, but also one of the most influential people in my career. He looked after me as if I were his little brother. He watched over me, gave me confidence and advice. Since then, he has been a role model for me, and he will get things right at Chelsea.'

Aside from all the kind words, there was also something remarkable to note. Pochettino says that he hasn't seen Arteta anymore. 'I did when I was at Tottenham Hotspur, but since I went to Paris, we haven’t had time to see each other.' Interestingly, Arteta said that he has seen his old friend a few times since his return to England.