Mauricio Pochettino’s departure has sparked questions about Chelsea’s future, and Rio Ferdinand believes the team may wind up being treated like a circus act.
In a harsh critique of Chelsea after Mauricio Pochettino left, Rio Ferdinand called the team a “circus act.”
Days after the season ended, the former Blues manager departed Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after the club’s review meetings. Pochettino’s two-year contract was barely completed in one year.
Despite a successful season finale that saw Chelsea advance from midtable mediocrity to European qualifying after a challenging transition period, the parties parted ways. Eventually, it appeared that things were turning around, and the team had a lot of respect for Pochettino.
The 52-year-old’s departure from Manchester United did not surprise the former defender Ferdinand, but rather the way it happened. The pundit believes Chelsea risks a “crazy” summer and is not persuaded that Chelsea is the right place for those in the running to succeed Pochettino.
Ferdinand stated, “This has come as an absolute surprise to many,” on the YouTube channel Vibe with Five. “A few days ago, I expressed my opinion that he could leave, but I had no idea it would happen so quickly.
“I believe that Mauricio and his team have performed admirably considering the circumstances. Throughout the season, they were frequently a laughingstock, but he pulled everything together.
“You consider, ‘What is Chelsea attempting to accomplish here,’ when you look at it. They were hoping for miracles this season because they brought in a ton of inexperienced players.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea ( Image: Getty Images)
“I had anticipated a process where he would try to stabilize this season, which he has, and then bring in some experience so they might have a chance the following year. If he gets the right pieces in the summer, they might not be all that far away.
“But after that, he gets the sack, and this turns into a circus performance.”
While Kieran McKenna, Enzo Maresca, Roberto De Zerbi, and Sebastian Hoeneß are all excellent names and do good work, I’m looking at some of the names that are being linked. This is a Chelsea man. I believe that the job that I have now is challenging. This may be the beginning of yet another crazy summer at Chelsea, but they are hoping to bring in a young, exciting manager and a project to get behind.”
