This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Gus Poyet, former player and assistant coach of Tottenham, recalled the unpredictable nature of Daniel Levy, the club's former chairman, stating that it is impossible to know if his presence would have prevented the current crisis the team is facing in the Premier League. Tottenham is at risk of relegation with seven matches remaining, and Poyet believes the club's problems are not just this season. 'This is not an accident; Tottenham finished 17th last season and is currently 17th,' said the Uruguayan in statements to Football London, expressing concern for the future of his former club, which is just one point above the relegation zone occupied by West Ham, managed by Nuno Espírito Santo. Levy left the chairmanship of the London club last year after nearly 25 years in the role, following an internal review conducted by the owners, the Lewis family. However, the sporting situation has not improved. Poyet, who was assistant to Juande Ramos when Tottenham won its last trophy before the Europa League triumph under Ange Postecoglou, was fired by Levy, just like the head coach. When asked if Levy would have acted more quickly to stop the team's decline this season, under the management of Thomas Frank and now Igor Tudor, Poyet was clear: 'It's hard to know because Daniel was always, always — and I really mean always — unpredictable.' To illustrate his unpredictability, Poyet recalled a significant episode. 'He fired Mourinho a week before the final, when the idea of hiring Mourinho was to win a trophy. So, what can I say? He was a very unpredictable chairman. We were fired the night before a game when we were at the hotel,' he said. 'Tottenham was playing at home on Sunday; we went to the hotel to stay overnight with the entire squad. I, Juande Ramos, and Marcos Alvarez were fired at 10 PM. More unpredictable than this? There weren't even any rumors.' The former midfielder detailed the moment: 'I spent most of the day waiting in my room and received a phone call telling me to come down. I went down, and we were fired. We left the hotel with our luggage and took a taxi home.' Poyet also mentioned how Levy managed the departure of Dimitar Berbatov, which dragged on until the last minute of the transfer window, harming the team's start: 'Berbatov ended up leaving, but he didn't play with us in August; we couldn't win a game, and then we were fired. How much of the blame was that? I don't know; I'm not going to blame anyone, but it didn't help.' In Poyet's opinion, Levy's departure from the club was perfectly calculated. 'He is very smart to leave at the right time. Maybe he foresaw what was coming,' Poyet suggested. 'People like him at the highest level, I think they know when the right moment to leave is. They don't stay when everything is falling apart. They leave just in time, and that is a quality because he left in Tottenham's worst year in the Premier League in a long time, in 17th, but he won a trophy. He left as a winner,' he stated. Poyet believes that the current Tottenham squad is more suited to European competitions than to the Premier League, which has become 'more physical, with individual duels and set pieces.' The Uruguayan confessed his growing concern, especially after watching recent matches against Arsenal and Forest, and warned of the dangerous trip to Sunderland's ground. 'I wish them the best going to the Stadium of Light right now, after winning the derby,' he said, highlighting the complexity of the match. 'It's not just about playing football; it's about running, fighting, competing, dealing with the pressure when a team attacks non-stop and the fans support.' The demand for the game is high, and it is necessary to be on point for a challenge that is expected to be 'tough.' The responsibility for survival, however, lies entirely with his team, a situation different from what he experienced at Sunderland. 'The most important thing, the only thing I can think of, and that didn't happen to me when I was at Sunderland, is that it's in your hands. It depends on you. If you win the same number of games as West Ham, then you stay up. After that, we'll see what happens in the next games.'
Gus Poyet Tottenham remains central to this story.
Gus Poyet Tottenham remains central to this story.
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