Pochettino wants Premier League return one day but 'happy in America'

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino admits he is "missing" the Premier League and remains open to a return to England one day.

Pochettino began his Premier League career in January 2013 when he was appointed manager of Southampton, before going on to join Tottenham the following May and spending five years at the club.

He also coached London rivals Chelsea for the 2023-24 season, and the Argentine does not rule out the possibility of returning once again.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world," he told BBC Sport.

"Of course, I am missing it. I am so happy in America, but also thinking one day to come back to the Premier League. It's the most competitive league."

Pochettino reminisced on his time at Spurs, as he guided the club to a second-place finish in the 2016-17 season, along with a Champions League final in 2019, though he was unable to win silverware.

He said: "I think we were so close in Tottenham, we nearly touched it [winning the Champions League and Premier League]. That is a thing that I would want to achieve."

The 53-year-old remains in close contact with Daniel Levy, who was chairman at the time, and he expressed his surprise at Levy's departure in September, which ended his 24-year association with the club.

"I was very surprised [at Levy's departure]. His legacy is there. It's amazing what he did for the club," added Pochettino.

"My relationship always was good with him. During my period in Tottenham and after I left.

"He was a really important person because he gave me the possibility to manage a club like Tottenham. That is, for me, one of the best clubs in the world, with an amazing fanbase."

Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent in May 2024, less than 12 months after being appointed, despite guiding the club to five straight wins to end the season, along with securing European football after finishing 6th.

The club had lost just one of their last 15 matches in the league, but Pochettino insists it was the right time to part ways.

He said: "We both decided to split. I think my first season was about to stop a little bit.

"The way that Chelsea was going down, it was difficult to stop this negative dynamic, if you remember. I don't know, it was six months, eight months with one win at Stamford Bridge.

"I think Chelsea is in a different project than it was in the past, and I wish all the best. I spent a very good time there."

Pochettino took charge of the United States national side last September, with the country co-hosting the World Cup next year, but it has not been smooth sailing since he took over, with 11 wins from 20 matches and defeats to the likes of South Korea, Panama and Mexico.

The Argentine admits it has taken time for him to adjust to taking over an international side, which he says is completely different in terms of the preparation and intensity.

"The intensity is completely different because you need to arrive for a few days to prepare the game and play, prepare another game, play, and go back," Pochettino said.

"After November, we are going to have three months until March to prepare another game. In a national team, you are desperate to coach the players.

"You feel empty because after the second game, you cannot have communication, and you cannot keep working on improving things."

Nevertheless, Pochettino believes that things are moving in the right direction ahead of next summer, where there will be pressure on the United States to perform at a home tournament.

He said: "I think after one year, we are making great progress. We are building [ideas] with people that the language of football is only one, and it doesn't care if you are American, Brazilian or English.

"Our football is [to] compete in the way that you need to compete, if you want to win."