The question of whether Mauricio Pochettino should have a Premier League title to his name has resurfaced, prompted by his past managerial spell at Chelsea and his subsequent reflection on Tottenham Hotspur's performance in the 2016-17 season. While Pochettino managed Chelsea for one season, concluding in 2024 with the team finishing sixth, his five-year tenure at Tottenham from 2014 is still viewed fondly by many of the club's supporters.
During his time at Tottenham, Pochettino led the team to a Premier League runners-up finish and the Champions League final in 2018-19. The 2016-17 season, in particular, saw the club achieve a record 86 points, a performance that has led some to question the integrity of the competition's outcomes.
Chris Paouros, co-founder and co-chair of Proud Lilywhites, expressed support for Pochettino's sentiment, stating that by many measures, the 2016-17 Tottenham team was the best in the league. Paouros noted the team had the best attack and defense, suffered the fewest defeats, and was unbeaten at home in the final season at the old White Hart Lane. The argument is raised that if the playing field was not level, the question of a retrospective title should be considered, although it is acknowledged that Spurs would not be officially handed the title.
Tristan Foot, secretary of the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust, believes that Spurs fans would celebrate a victory over Chelsea, even if it were awarded a decade later due to rule breaches. However, he also highlighted a broader concern regarding the perception that "crime does pay in football." Foot pointed to the transfer window signings made by Chelsea during that period, suggesting they had an unfair advantage. He emphasized the need for the Premier League to implement more effective sporting sanctions to ensure its rules carry weight.
With all investigations now concluded, it appears unlikely that Pochettino or Tottenham will receive any retrospective trophy. This situation draws parallels to the ongoing situation involving Manchester City, leaving clubs and supporters to ponder the long-term implications of such cases on the sport's fairness and credibility.