Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino reveals his desire to manage England: 'I'd relish the opportunity... of the last 21 England debutants, 17 have played under me'

Pochettino reveals how he would like to manage England one day, because he likes the ‘honest and aggressive’ mentality of English players

If I were to be an international manager one day, I’d relish the opportunity to coach the England national team.

I’ve heard that I’ve been considered for the job before, but I don’t know if there was any truth in it.

I’d be reunited with loads of familiar faces: Harry Kane, Danny Rose, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Adam Lallana.

Of the last 21 England debutants, 17 have played under me — there’s also the likes of Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez, Calum Chambers, Nathaniel Clyne, Luke Shaw and Ryan Mason. In the last four-and-a-half seasons, 11 regulars in the England squad made their international debuts under my stewardship. I remember [while at Southampton] once telling Adam Lallana how taken aback I was when I first witnessed the mentality of English players up-close — their enthusiasm in training, the sparks that fly in 50-50 challenges. Lallana himself was once so angry with a decision during a training match that he blew his top and swore at [coach] Miki D’Agostino, (who was serving as the referee, as he often does).

He subsequently apologised, but I thought to myself, ‘I want guys like that in my team.’

The English are brave, honest and aggressive, and the good ones want to add to their game

lIN the 2-2 draw with Chelsea when we were battling for the title, Chelsea were playing for pride. I understand and value the fact that teams in England give their all in every single game.

It’s a positive. Behaviour in the dugout, however, is another matter. Something that drove Nicola Cortese [former Southampton chairman] up the wall was the fact that there were club coaches in the England Under 18s and Under 21s set-up. Chelsea have an assistant who also works for England. He should set an example, but he certainly did no such thing that day.

The way he looked at us as they piled on the pressure, or the way he came over to our bench to celebrate Chelsea’s goals was not right.

It was the complete opposite of what Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink was doing. Guus was a real gentleman, while still trying to beat us, despite the tension that arose that evening. When I saw that assistant soon after at our training ground, which the national team was using, I made my feelings very clear to him.

Mauricio Pochettino