Following confrontational talks, Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino departed.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea. (Image: Getty)
Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent following heated discussions with the club’s management in the last few days, even though the Blues’ late-season performance allowed them to qualify for Europe. After splitting with the Argentine, Chelsea is now one of the many elite teams in Europe searching for a new manager.
Although Pochettino had some difficulties at Stamford Bridge this season, he managed five straight victories towards the end of the campaign to help his team finish sixth in the Premier League.
If Manchester United wins the FA Cup on Saturday, Chelsea will play in the Europa League the following season; otherwise, they will be relegated to the Conference League.
Pochettino led the Blues to both the FA Cup semifinals and the Carabao Cup final this season, winning 27 of his 51 games in charge of the team.
However, he left after talks with co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and The Telegraph.
In addition, he had dinner with co-controlling owner Todd Boehly on Friday night before raising questions about his future with cryptic remarks made following Chelsea’s victory over AFC Bournemouth on the final day of play.
Before Pochettino decided to part ways with Chelsea on Tuesday morning, it is said that Chelsea began an end-of-season review on Monday.
There is reportedly no animosity between the team and the coach, who is entitled to a sizeable payout for quitting after just one year of a two-year contract.
However, the report also states that some Chelsea officials believe the season fell short of their expectations, and problems like Pochettino’s never-ending injury list caused them to express concern.
Pochettino expressed his gratitude to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors in a statement, saying: “I am honored to be a part of this football club’s history.
“The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
According to reports, the West London team will start looking for a replacement right away and wants to name a coach who is young and forward-thinking.
According to reports, Sebastian Hoeness of Stuttgart, Michel of Girona, Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town, and Enzo Maresca of Leicester City are all being considered.
Thomas Tuchel, the former manager of Chelsea who left Bayern Munich, is said to be eager to return to the Premier League and may run for the position.
After Pochettino, Graham Potter, and Tuchel, the person who accepts the position will be the fourth permanent head coach in the little over two years that Clearlake Capital-Boehly has been in ownership.
The fact that Chelsea had six different interim managers last season—including Frank Lampard and Bruno Saltor—highlighted their difficulties.
