Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has called on the club’s supporters to show respect to Mauricio Pochettino when he returns to his former club with Chelsea on Monday.

This will be Blues manager Pochettino’s first visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since his dismissal in 2019.

Just a few months before being fired by chairman Daniel Levy, the Argentine had a largely successful five-year tenure with Tottenham, leading them to their first Champions League final.

Following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino was linked to a return to Tottenham during the club’s search for a new manager during the off-season.

However, Tottenham acquired Postecoglou from Celtic, and Pochettino chose to join the London rivals of his former team, which increases the likelihood that the 51-year-old will face hostility from Spurs supporters.

Postecoglou, though, is hoping that the supporters will give Pochettino some respect.

“Look, it is undoubted that he had an unbelievable impact on this football club,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“He almost took the club to the ultimate summit of the Champions League, got close to the league, so his work is unquestioned.

“Everyone I speak to around here, there are still people who worked with him, they can’t speak highly enough of him as a person and as a manager.

“I doubt there will be anything but respect for Mauricio from anyone at this football club, supporters or people associated, but it doesn’t mean he will get a guard of honour on Monday night because we want to win.

“I don’t think he would expect that, but his tenure here and impact here is undeniable and will stand the test of time.”

With eight victories out of ten games, Postecoglou’s undefeated Tottenham team is currently atop the Premier League.

Quite the opposite of the Australian’s immediate impact, Pochettino has encountered numerous teething issues at Chelsea.

Even with over £350 million ($425 million) spent on new players during the off-season, Pochettino’s injury-plagued team is only three wins away from the top in the league.

When asked to evaluate Pochettino’s situation, Postecoglou backed the Argentine.

“What I know is you don’t really know what challenges exist until you’re in it,” he said.

“What I have to deal with and what Mauricio has to deal with are probably very, very different, but in essence what we are trying to do is the same thing: build a team that we believe can bring success.

“You look at Mauricio’s track record and I’ve got no doubt he’ll get Chelsea on the right path, I’ve no doubt about that.”