Premier League / Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino heading for the exit door!
On Tuesday night, Chelsea once again confirmed that they have been in a bad state for several years now. In the Premier League showdown against Arsenal, the Blues were thrashed (5-0) and sit in 9th place in the standings. This performance comes just days after their elimination in the FA Cup semi-finals against Manchester City.
Since these setbacks, while some players like Nicolas Jackson and his clumsiness in front of goal are criticized, Mauricio Pochettino is also under scrutiny. The former PSG coach struggles to find the right formula despite having a top-notch squad, and naturally, his future is being questioned.
On Wednesday, the Telegraph reveals that at Chelsea, discussions revolve around Mauricio Pochettino’s future. Indeed, the question of whether he will remain in charge of the team this summer is clearly being raised.
According to the British media, although no decision has been made yet regarding the Argentine technician, the pressure around him is clearly mounting. The London management is frustrated with several of his choices but still holds him in high regard for his work under challenging circumstances with a multitude of injuries. Within the club itself, there is a belief that Mauricio Pochettino cannot be solely blamed for the poor results.
However, this view is not unanimous. Especially since with the FA Cup elimination and the loss in the Carabao Cup final, Chelsea is heading towards a trophyless season and risks not qualifying for European competition with a 9th place finish in the Premier League.
This will undoubtedly not play in Mauricio Pochettino’s favor, especially as a review meeting is already scheduled with Todd Boehly, as well as the sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart. The Telegraph explains that some club executives advocate for keeping Pochettino, arguing on one hand that no coach would thrive in such an unstable environment, and on the other hand, that stability, after changing coaches three times in 2 seasons, would benefit Chelsea.
The British media also adds that part of the club’s American leadership is keen on change, especially since qualifying for Europe was the minimum objective for the first season, particularly as supporters are starting to target Pochettino after the recent results. But in his defense, the former Tottenham coach can boast of having the players on his side, as several players internally have expressed their desire to continue with their current coach.
He is highly regarded by the group, especially for his ability to develop young talents like Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto, or Nicolas Jackson. His knowledge of the players will also be valuable this summer as Todd Boehly prepares for another big transfer window (and to offload several players). He even made a trip to Saudi Arabia to explore possibilities. It remains to be seen whether he also plans to seek a new coach.
