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Chelsea finished the 2023-24 campaign on a high note, sneaking into the Premier League top six and earning a spot in Europe for next season. But, overall, the club did not live up to expectations, which has resulted in Mauricio Pochettino leaving Stamford Bridge.
The Argentine has been let go by the Blues, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. Chelsea will be searching for a younger manager to replace him for the 2024-25 campaign. The two sides mutually parted ways.
Pochettino lasted just one season in charge of the London outfit, but he did help them make the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semifinals.
“Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity,” Pochettino said, via BBC Sport.
“The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
Pochettino signed a two-year deal with Chelsea last summer but will see his contract end a year early. He's reportedly leaving on good terms and believes this is the best move for the club moving forward.
What's next for Chelsea?
The Blues have been criticized by many for their lack of consistency this past season after spending boatloads of money in the transfer window, specifically during 2022-23. But despite having lots of talented players in their squad, things didn't come together until the end of the season.
Chelsea only tasted defeat twice in their final 16 matches and benefited heavily from the arrival of Cole Palmer from Manchester City. The young Englishman bagged 22 goals and tallied 11 assists in league action while scoring 25 across all competitions. Palmer is indeed the future of this attack. Nicolas Jackson also had 17 goals in his debut campaign, although he missed a ton of clear-cut chances as well.
There were definitely some positives throughout the season for Chelsea. Injuries played a crucial part though, with over 50 of them from the start of the campaign to the finish. It's hard to find a rhythm when you don't have a healthy squad with your best options.
That's why it's difficult to put the blame on Pochettino's shoulders, who did the best with what he had. But, it does appear there was some tension between him and the board. Todd Boehly preached patience, while Pochettino wanted to win now. After all, this is a gaffer who came in with a decorated resume of success. He came to the Bridge to win trophies.
“On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season,” sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said, via BBC.
“He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
Chelsea will now be searching for a new tactician to take the club back into the top four next term. Burnley's Vincent Kompany, Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna, and Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim are all reportedly on their radar.
This is not an easy job and it's evident by the last handful of years. They've had five different managers in the last six seasons. Whoever is appointed will have their work cut out for them, but at least, the core group for the club is solid right now. Better years are ahead.
