There was a mixed reaction to Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking among Chelsea’s players (Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
After leading Chelsea to a sixth-place result, the Argentine manager’s tenure at Stamford Bridge came to an end on Tuesday when the two parties decided to part ways.
There are many rumors about a rift in Chelsea’s locker room as a result of differing opinions over Mauricio Pochettino’s departure.
After leading the Blues to a sixth-place Premier League result and winning 19 more points and scoring 25 more goals than Chelsea did the previous season, the Argentine manager left the team on Tuesday by mutual consent. Players began posting their reactions on social media one by one in the hours that followed his dismissal.
As anticipated, the manager received many heartfelt messages of gratitude, but a few players didn’t follow the rules. Nicolas Jackson posted a picture of himself and Pochettino to Instagram along with two face-palm emojis, seemingly as a jab at Chelsea’s owners.
“I love you, coach,” the forward from Senegal wrote. “Wish we could spend more time together. However, may God keep blessing you and your loved ones. I appreciate your guidance and encouragement; you are a real fighter and lion. Best wishes.”
Still, the response wasn’t entirely unfavorable. Malang Sarr, a forgotten Blues defender who never saw a game under Pochettino, “liked” Chelsea’s Instagram post announcing the departure of the former Tottenham manager. It’s also understood that the players, who had been kept in the dark by the club, were furious when they discovered the news on social media.
The players could not believe it, according to a source close to the team, who told The Telegraph that their WhatsApp group had a “meltdown.” Before the news spread and began circulating through their WhatsApp groups, they were unaware of it. They were pretty upset because the majority of them really liked Poch.”
Under Boehly, Chelsea is already actively seeking their sixth manager, and Pochettino’s successor is anticipated to be revealed in the coming days as opposed to weeks. The Blues are rumored to be looking for a young manager with experience playing excellent possession-based football. Kieran McKenna of Ipswich, Enzo Maresca of Leicester, and Roberto De Zerbi, the former manager of Brighton, are reportedly high on their shortlist.
Malang Sarr ‘liked’ Chelsea’s post confirming Pochettino’s departure
Others in the running include Michel of Girona, Thomas Frank, the manager of Brentford, and Sebastian Hoeness of Stuttgart. It is acknowledged that renowned coaches like Antonio Conte, Hansi Flick, and Thomas Tuchel will not be taken into consideration.
