Despite wanting to wait until the season is over to review Mauricio Pochettino’s position, Chelsea is still considering Rúben Amorim and Roberto De Zerbi as potential replacements for the Argentinian.
Pochettino, who was handed a two-year deal after arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer, faces an uncertain future after a mixed run of results. Supporters turned on the head coach during Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Brentford last Saturday and there are doubts over whether the 52-year-old will be in charge next season.
Pochettino still has the support of important figures within the hierarchy, as Chelsea, currently sitting at 11th place in the Premier League, stand firm in their decision not to make hasty choices. Despite the team’s inconsistency in both results and performances, it is believed that they are making progress under the guidance of the ex-Tottenham boss. Pochettino has also managed to maintain a positive and motivated atmosphere among the young players, despite having to face challenges such as injuries to key players throughout the season.
The scrutiny on the ex-Southampton manager intensified when Chelsea was defeated by an injury-ridden and inexperienced Liverpool team in the Carabao Cup final last month. Pochettino’s fate may hinge on whether or not Chelsea, who will face Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 17, secure a spot in European competition.
At the moment, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital are not eager to make a hasty decision regarding Pochettino. Instead, he has been given the chance to keep his position. Boehly and Clearlake value continuity, especially after having gone through four managers in the previous season.
Chelsea is considering their options and planning for the future in case they need to make a change. They are looking at two potential candidates, Amorim from Sporting and De Zerbi, who may be leaving Brighton in the near future. De Zerbi is also being considered by Liverpool to potentially replace Jürgen Klopp, and Manchester United is interested in him if they decide to let go of Erik ten Hag.
Liverpool are also looking at Amorim. The 39-year-old led Sporting to the Portuguese title in 2021 and he hopes to help them win the league again this season. Chelsea considered Amorim before appointing Pochettino last year.
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The manager hired for the Chelsea position must be willing to work within the club’s athletic framework. Pochettino does not have control over recruiting. The dual sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, have primarily led the recent string of investments in young players. Co-director of recruitment and talent, Joe Shields, has also contributed, and the highly influential co-controlling owner, Behdad Eghbali, has played a significant role.
Last week, Pochettino stated that it is his responsibility to remain in his position as coach when questioned about Conor Gallagher’s future. Gallagher’s contract will expire next year and issues with negotiating a new deal may result in his departure this summer.
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According to reports, it has been stated that Pochettino has been given a disadvantage by the management of the club. Chelsea is lacking in both experience and leadership, and various injuries have made it challenging to rotate players. The injuries of Roméo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu, and Carney Chukwuemeka have limited Pochettino’s choices in the midfield, and he has had to rely heavily on Gallagher, Enzo Fernández, and Moisés Caicedo.
However, doubts have been expressed as to the reasoning behind Chelsea’s decision to bring back 21-year-old midfielder, Cesare Casadei, from his loan spell at Leicester in January. Despite making 25 appearances for Leicester across all competitions, Casadei has only played for 13 minutes since rejoining his parent club. He was left on the bench during the match against Brentford and there are concerns that this may impede his progress.
Chelsea’s strategies have drawn criticism as they have given room for Andrey Santos, a 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder, to play in four matches during two loan stints at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg this year.
Chelsea is investigating their tendency to lose momentum after half-time when coached by Pochettino. It is frustrating that strong performances in the first half are not consistently followed through. For instance, Chelsea held a 1-0 lead against Brentford at half-time, but they could only manage a draw after struggling in the second half.
Source: theguardian.com
