Gus Poyet believes he could be the man to help save Tottenham from an unprecedented relegation.
The former Spurs midfielder recalled how he remarkably saved Sunderland from the drop in 2014 to prove that he can do it again, with Tottenham close to the Premier League drop zone.
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Twelve years ago, Poyet was in charge of the Black Cats when they found themselves seven points from safety with six games to play.
Yet he managed to somehow mastermind an incredible late turnaround to keep them in the top flight.
Tottenham may not find themselves in such dire straits, but they certainly need someone to help prevent relegation and the financial consquences that would bring.
And turning to one of their former players, who wore the shirt from 2001 through to 2004, could be the way to go.
“They are in danger,” Poyet acknowledged on eSPORTY’s White and Jordan when speaking about Spurs’ relegation trouble that has brought fans to tears.
“You need to find the problem and sort it out yesterday… it’s Sunderland away next, all the best going up there.”
The question was then raised whether it is time for a legend to come in and take charge, with Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood linked.
“First, I wouldn’t want any coach to get sacked,” Poyet began. “But I thought that before Igor Tudor it was more clear, now it’s a different decision…it was more clear before about what kind of character or coach, now it’s a big call.
“Beginning of the season it was someone who knows the league well in Thomas Frank, middle of season, someone who doesn’t know it.
“So what next? Are you going to find one in the middle?”
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Then, when asked what he would do if Spurs made an approach for him, Poyet said: “I’ve already done it with Sunderland.
“I was in that position…sorry, I was in a worse position, I was seven points adrift and we stayed up, don’t ask me how!
“From outside, yes [I think I could save them]. Then, from inside, is when you find, if you find that problem inside, then definitely.
“You need to know that, it’s very easy for everyone to say outside that they know what to do when they go in.”
He continued: “Do the players need something? Yes.
“But I think it’s simple, as simple as possible, play the players in their best position and play.”
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Spurs lacking ‘men’
Poyet also discussed his time at Tottenham at the start of the 2000s and the squad he was playing alongside.
And the 58-year-old believes that something has been lost in the dressing room since then, which could be impacting them now.
“I joined a team of men, Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, Tim Sherwood, Darren Anderton, we were men, we were in the tunnel looking at eachother saying: ‘We are men here’,” he explained.
“But slowly after that, the following year and my last one, we lost that and we started weakening, losing characters.”
Poyet added: “It’s difficult to say [whether Spurs have ‘men’ in the team now], it’s a difference having men and having character.
“I think in the last few years, it’s been too easy to be a Tottenham player – best training ground, best stadium, what is your objective playing at Spurs?”
