Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea after just one season in charge by mutual consent, the English club announced on Tuesday. Despite finishing sixth in the Premier League and missing out on Champions League qualification and a trophy, Pochettino and the club have agreed to part ways. The Blues have spent over £1 billion on new players in just two years under the ownership of an American consortium, with the majority of that spending going towards rising stars. Pochettino cited a lack of experience and a lengthy injury list as reasons for the team’s inconsistent results.
Chelsea lost the League Cup final to Liverpool and were defeated by Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals, despite putting up a strong fight in both matches. Towards the end of the season, the team managed to secure five consecutive wins, securing a spot in Europe for next season. Chelsea will qualify for the Europa League if Manchester United loses to City in the FA Cup final or for the Conference League if the Red Devils win. Pochettino expressed his gratitude to the club’s ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be a part of the club’s history and believes that Chelsea is well positioned to continue moving forward in the Premier League and Europe.
Chelsea’s sporting directors thanked Pochettino for his service during the season and stated that he would be welcome back at Stamford Bridge anytime. They wished him the best in his future coaching career. Despite the challenges faced during the season, there were positive signs that Pochettino’s project was coming together towards the end of the campaign. The team’s strong finish and qualification for European competition next season indicate that progress has been made under Pochettino’s leadership. The club is now looking ahead to the future and is optimistic about its prospects in both domestic and European competitions in the years to come.
