Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after talks with club administrators in recent days, despite the Blues’ good form at the end of the season that secured them European qualification. Chelsea join the collection of European heavyweights looking for a new manager after parting ways with the Argentine.
Pochettino has struggled at Stamford Bridge this season but has picked up straight wins at the end of the crusade to finish sixth in the Premier League.
Chelsea will play in the Europa League next season unless Manchester United win the FA Cup on Saturday, which would demote them to the Conference League.
Pochettino has won 27 of his 51 games for the Blues and guided them to the Carabao Cup final and FA Cup semi-finals this season.
But, according to The Telegraph, talks with administrators Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and co-owner Behdad Eghbali led to his departure.
He also met co-owner Todd Boehly for dinner last Friday before sparking speculation after Chelsea’s win over AFC Bournemouth on the final day with cryptic comments about his future.
Chelsea reportedly began an end-of-season review on Monday before Pochettino agreed to include tactics on Tuesday morning.
There would be no war of words between the club and the coach, who expects a really large return for leaving his two-year contract for one year.
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But the report adds that Chelsea’s numbers see the season as a failure to live up to expectations, and issues such as Pochettino’s relentless injury list have raised concerns.
In a statement, Pochettino said: “Thank you to the ownership organisation and the administrators of Chelsea for the opportunity to be part of the history of this football club.
“The club is now in a position to continue to progress in the Premier League and in Europe in the coming years. “
The west London club are looking for a replacement and want to hire a young, progressive coach.
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Sebastian Hoeness of Stuttgart, Michel of Girona, Kieran McKenna of Ipswich Town and Enzo Maresca of Leicester City are said to be considered.
Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel, who left Bayern Munich, is said to be in favour of returning to the Premier League and could emerge as a candidate.
Whoever accepts the task will be the fourth permanent head coach in just over two years of ownership of Clearlake Capital-Boehly, after Pochettino, Graham Potter and Tuchel.
Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard’s tenures as caretaker manager last season would make him a sixth call-up to the bench, highlighting Chelsea’s woes.
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