On Tuesday, Chelsea confirmed that Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino has mutually agreed to leave the club.
Pochettino, who joined Chelsea last summer, led the team to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, securing a return to European competition.
Struggles and Turnaround
Pochettino, 52, faced challenges connecting with supporters and endured a difficult season with the team hovering around mid-table.
Despite this, he managed to turn things around by winning the last four games of the season, which helped Chelsea achieve a respectable league position.
Paul Merson’s Reaction
Paul Merson, a former footballer and current pundit, shared his strong opinions on Pochettino’s departure on social media.
Merson expressed disbelief over the decision, highlighting Pochettino’s recent success in stabilizing the team and securing European football.
“‘Just hearing the news about Pochettino,'” Merson began. “‘Cannot believe he’s gone. Cannot believe. Whoever is making these decisions… how are you going to replace a manager like him? Just got the team going, went on a great run, got into Europe, got into sixth in the league from where they were. He’s just got this team playing. It’s madness I cannot, cannot, cannot believe what I’m hearing.'”
Club’s Official Statements
Sporting Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley thanked Pochettino for his service, stating, “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
Pochettino responded, “Thank you to the 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.”
Mixed Reactions from Fans
Fans had mixed reactions to the news on social media. While some were disappointed to see Pochettino go, others felt his departure was justified, though many questioned the board’s decision-making process.
Chelsea is now on the hunt for their fourth permanent manager since Todd Boehly took over in 2022.
One fan commented, “I can’t say I’m disappointed Poch has gone. He lost many after the shambles of playing for penalties in the League Cup final BUT progress in the last month makes it bizarre and tells you all you need to know about our owners. The club continues to be a circus.”
Another wrote, “Not angry about Poch going, I was Poch out the whole season. It’s just the complete lack of faith in the board to make any correct decision. 0-4 in managers incoming.”
Looking Forward
As Chelsea begins the search for a new manager, the club aims to build on the progress made under Pochettino and continue to compete at the highest levels of the Premier League and European competitions.
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