Was Mauricio Pochettino really sacked from his managerial position?

Mauricio Pochettino’s reign at Chelsea is over, ending with the Argentine coach spending just 10 months in the Stamford Bridge dugout. The former Tottenham Hotspur coach’s arrival in July 2023 came with scrutiny, but he got fans on board as the 2023–24 campaign progressed.

The Blues finished sixth in the league, qualifying for next season’s UEFA Europa League which looked hugely unlikely halfway through the season. Pochettino appeared to have proven his worth to the higher-ups but there was always uncertainty that he’d remain in charge once the season concluded.

Mauricio Pochettino was kept away from Chelsea‘s recruitment during his tenure, with Todd Boehly and Behdad Egbhali wanting their own recruitment team to control transfer activity. The new owners have spent over £1 billion since arriving in May 2022 which hasn’t resulted in much or any success thus far.

That said, there don’t appear to have been many issues between Pochettino and the board despite his departure just a year into a two-year deal. The decision to part ways was reportedly mutual and there was an agreement that it was better if both parties moved on, per The Daily Telegraph‘s Matt Law.

Pochettino released a statement after his exit was confirmed and he thanked the fans for their support during his short spell in west London with the Blues:

“Thank you to Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be 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.”

Chelsea have started their search for a successor and several names have been linked, including some surprise names that are being discussed internally. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims the likes of Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, and VfB Stuttgart’s Seb Hoeneß are being considered. The higher-ups at Stamford Bridge appear to want a younger coach to take the reigns.

“I know nothing about football” – Gus Poyet shocked by Chelsea’s decision to let Mauricio Pochettino go

Gus Poyet was bemused by Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino, as he believed the club was headed in a promising direction under the former Paris Saint-Germain boss. Their former midfielder spoke to Sky Sports shortly after the announcement:

“My initial reaction was I know nothing about football, nothing surprises me anymore… Everybody close to Chelsea were expecting a great summer and the start of something important for next year. I was shocked and I couldn’t believe it.”

Mauricio Pochettino oversaw 27 wins in 51 games in charge of the west Londoners but their end-of-season form looked to have won over fans. His side is five on the bounce to finish sixth after spending the majority of the season dwindling mid-table.

It’s a massive show of progression given Chelsea finished the 2022-23 campaign 12th and, as a result, was without European football this season. A new manager will be tasked with taking over a youthful squad with whom Pochettino seemed to forge a close bond ahead of a Europa League campaign.

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