Sky
Sports' Paul Merson says he is stunned Mauricio Pochettino has left
Chelsea by mutual consent.
The west London club announced Pochettino's departure on Tuesday, eight days
short of a year after it was announced he would take charge at Stamford
Bridge on a two-year contract.
The 52-year-old led a youthful Blues side to the Carabao Cup final and FA
Cup semi-finals and, despite a season largely of struggles, ended the
Premier League campaign with five successive wins to secure European
football with a sixth-place finish.
"I cannot believe he's gone. Who is making these decisions?," said Merson,
visibly astounded at the news.
"How are you going to replace a manager like him? He's just got this team
playing. Finished sixth, got into Europe. It's madness.
"I cannot believe what I'm hearing."
Chelsea are now searching for their fourth permanent manager since Todd
Boehly's takeover at the club two years ago.
How Chelsea players reacted...
Striker Nicolas Jackson appeared to disagree with Pochettino's exit, posting
a facepalm emoji and adding: "Love you coach. Wish we could stay together
more.
"But may God continue to bless you and your family. Thanks for the advices
and support, you're a true lion and a fighter, wish you all the best."
Marc Cucurella posted several shocked-face emojis to his post which read:
"Thank you for everything Mister. Good luck in the future."
Cole Palmer said: "Gaffer, thank you for everything you have done for me and
making my dreams come true. All the best."
Chelsea legend John Terry said he was "gutted" with the decision and hoped
the club wouldn't sign any players "until we get a manager in".
'History repeating itself as Pochettino
departs'
Sky Sports' chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
"We all know Mauricio Pochettino had quite a difficult season at Stamford
Bridge, but it appeared as though things had changed. Results had got much
better, the fans felt a connection with him, and the team.
"But the season ended and Mauricio had a meeting with the two sporting
directors at Chelsea, and they decided after talks to sleep on it. But
ultimately, both sides felt that going forward they couldn't make it work,
they were on different paths.
"Pochettino revealed he had dinner with Todd Boehly recently and that had
gone well, but behind the scenes there has been some doubt. Chelsea are such
a big club, politically there is a lot going on.
"Chelsea believe they are a Champions League club. For a variety of reasons,
they've not met that target. There are no hard feelings between the owners
and Mauricio Pochettino, the players like him, and fans like him too.
"It's a job that takes time. Chelsea managers don't get a lot of time and it
seems like history is repeating itself under the new ownership."
So who next for Chelsea?
Sky Sports' chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
"The likes of Thomas Tuchel, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are not being
considered. They want a dynamic coach to work within a structure that is
settled and bedded in.
"Kieran McKenna has done such a fantastic job at Ipswich. The only thing I
would say there is that he doesn't have Premier League or Champions League
experience.
"Sebastian Hoeness has done such a great job at Stuttgart, who finished
above Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, is a candidate.
"Another name that's been mentioned to me a lot is Thomas Frank. He ticks a
lot of boxes for Chelsea and I think he will be a candidate as well. If you
go through the criteria of the kind of head coach they are looking for, he
fits the bill.
"Another name that's been mentioned is Michel at Girona. Enzo Maresca is a
possibility, but not a name that's been mentioned to me. Ruben Amorim at
Sporting was linked with the Liverpool and West Ham jobs, but again, I've
not heard anything about him.
"I'm being steered away from Roberto De Zerbi and it's a definite no for
Vincent Kompany. He was on the final shortlist to become Chelsea head coach
last summer, but I'm being told this time around, he is not going to be a
candidate."
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