Mauricio Pochettino starts digging Igor Tudor's grave with Tottenham boss facing sack threat

Mauricio Pochettino's actions could signal the end for Igor Tudor's time at Tottenham

There is one manager all other Tottenham bosses are measured against as a barometer for success in the modern era.

When form craters and performances dip, as they so often have done over the past seven years, supporters mention the ghost of Mauricio Pochettino. When there is no clear tactical identity or no sign of a pathway for youngsters, the comparisons begin.

When the stadium atmosphere turns toxic, as it did against Crystal Palace last week, memories invariably drift back to the 'Golden Era' under Pochettino. A 'Golden Era' that delivered no trophies, mind. What great times.

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The spirit of Tottenham's past is set to haunt Igor Tudor on Tuesday night as Spurs face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16. Pochettino will be in the stands. For Tudor, it is the ultimate "wrong place, wrong time" scenario.

Tudor’s appointment has, frankly, been a disaster. Brought in last month to arrest the slide following Thomas Frank’s dismissal, the Croatian has instead overseen a freefall.

He has lost all three of his games in charge and patience is already wearing thin. There are suggestions that the club could cut ties with their interim manager if their dismal results continue, even before his contract expires at the end of this season.

With Spurs now sitting one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League, Tuesday’s first-leg tie against Atletico is do-or-die for Tudor - the only chances to salvage some joy from an otherwise miserable campaign.

But it is definitely more die than do - and Pochettino has his spade in hand ready to bury the current boss 12 feet under.

We've all heard about the goalkeepers' union. If one keeper makes a mistake, another one sticks up for him. Football managers just don't live by the same integrity. It's like the Hunger Games. When one manager is wounded, the others smell blood. Like vultures sat in the stands licking their lips, waiting for their prey to become deceased.

Tudor is not expected to survive beyond the end of the current campaign anyway. But with Pochettino circling, he may be put out of his misery sooner rather than later.

Pochettino is still the manager of the USMNT and is said to be fully focused on leading the nation at their first home World Cup since 1994. There is no guarantee he will decide to leave his role post-World Cup for a Spurs reunion. But even with rumours of Real Madrid’s interest in acquiring his services ahead of next season, Spurs remain the romantic choice.

He will be aware of the narrative and the optics every time his face is shown on the big screen at the Metropolitano Stadium tonight. Yet the well-dressed Grim Reaper still chooses to attend and help to dig Tudor’s managerial grave.