‘In the past’: Mauricio Pochettino now addresses the rumours that he was almost Newcastle boss

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has faced the media ahead of his side's trip to St James' Park tomorrow.

There was a point when Mauricio Pochettino's name was in the frame for the Newcastle hot seat before the PIF-led takeover went through, with Sky Sports reporting at the time that he was the potential new owner's number 1 choice.

The Argentinian was quite a popular choice among Newcastle fans after his positive spell at Tottenham, but the Newcastle takeover stalled once again and Poch went to Paris Saint-Germain.

When the takeover went through Poch was unavailable

When the Newcastle takeover did finally go through the new owners went in a different direction approaching Unai Emery and eventually landing on Eddie Howe.

Peter Cziborra via Reuters

In his press conference this afternoon, Pochettino was asked if he was close to becoming Newcastle boss (via Football London).

“No, you ask me in the past? Never was a possibility. No-one contact me.”

This will be Poch's first visit to St James' Park since those rumours so it makes sense that the question was asked.

Eddie Howe is the perfect fit for Newcastle

At the time I was quite into the idea of having Poch at Newcastle after what he did at Tottenham, but now, I wouldn't want anyone but Eddie Howe.

Howe has transformed this club in ways I don't think any other manager could and he's set it up as a long-term project, not just the here and now.

So the fact that it was never on the cards for Poch and Newcastle is absolutely fine. We got the best man for the job.