Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur: Victor Wanyama braced for torrid time from Saints boo boys as he makes St Mary’s return
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino knows from bitter personal experience that Wanyama can expect to a barrage of abuse
VICTOR WANYAMA has been warned he can expect to run a gauntlet of hate when he returns to St Mary’s.
The Kenyan anchorman, 25, will line up for Tottenham in their Premier League clash at his former club Southampton.
It will be his first match back at Saints since he left them for the North Londoners in an £11.5million switch last summer.
And Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino knows from bitter personal experience that Wanyama can expect to a barrage of abuse from the home fans still angry with him for leaving.
The St Mary’s regulars have still not forgiven the Argie for walking out on them to take over at White Hart Lane 2½ years ago.
And Poch reckons Wanyama should brace himself for some stick.
He said: “It is only normal when the people love you and you take a decision that is not for them.
“It’s normal that they should be a little upset about the decision. You have to respect that.”
Pochettino received dog’s abuse from Saints fans on his first game back there with Tottenham in 2015.
The fans wore orange to pay homage to his successor, Dutchman Ronald Koeman.
When Pochettino was reminded of that, he joked: “Southampton fans say bad words to me? No. Never.
“That’s the good thing about it being difficult for me to understand English — I thought their response was good!
But he admitted: “It was difficult for me. It was my first game back there and they prepared the orange day to try to upset me.
“In the same way it showed their love for me because if they didn’t do that it would have showed they never cared for me.”
Despite the hostility, Pochettino bears no hard feelings to Saints fans and cherishes his time in charge there.
He said: “I still feel the love from the people but it’s normal for some of the fans to hate me.
“That doesn’t change my respect for Southampton, the club and the people we worked together with for a year-and-a-half.
“For different situations, we had to part ways. But my memories will be good.
“It’s always special to go back to Southampton. It was a special place for me and my family to start my Premier League career.
“I still have a special relationship with a lot of people there and I am looking forward to seeing them again.”
Asked if Wanyama is strong enough to handle any flak, Pochettino said: “We will see.”
After Koeman’s summer exit to Everton, Pochettino will be facing Claude Puel in the home dug-out.
Pochettino said “I know him well from France. He’s a great coach and he’s doing a fantastic job.”
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho hit out at Premier League fixture chiefs for not making all clubs play on Boxing Day.
But Pochettino said: “Most played on the 26th and we play on 28th, but we are all in the same situation.
“We play against Chelsea on January 4 with one day less preparation — so it’s all the same.”