Chelsea have Mauricio Pochettino on the ‘list’ of managers to take over from Graham Potter, according to journalist Simon Phillips.
The Lowdown: Public backing for Potter
Chelsea have won just one out of their last 11 games in all competitions, leaving Potter’s future in doubt, although the manager has insisted that he will not quit despite his side’s terrible run of form.
CBS reporter Ben Jacobs has indicated that Todd Boehly and the rest of the board still publicly retain faith in the Englishman, but that seemingly hasn’t stopped them from compiling a list of potential replacements…
The Latest: Pochettino on the list
In an interview with GiveMeSport, Phillips claimed that the Blues approached Pochettino prior to Potter’s arrival, and they could still make a move for him if they part ways with their current manager.
The journalist said: “Chelsea approached Mauricio Pochettino at the same time as they approached Graham Potter. They obviously chose the latter at that point, but I know that Pochettino would continue to be on that list.
“Chelsea are doing their due diligence and they will have a list, like every club does, so I know that Pochettino remains on there.
The Verdict: Right man for the job?
The 50-year-old did a fantastic job at Tottenham Hotspur, leading them all the way to the 2019 Champions League final, before eventually coming unstuck in the final against Premier League rivals Liverpool.
While he did not win any silverware with Spurs, the Argentine has since won three trophies with Paris Saint-Germain, although that success was not deemed good enough by the board, who decided to sack him last summer despite earning 2.15 points per game.
Hailed as an ‘excellent’ manager by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the Argentine, who favours a 4-3-3 formation, has previous experience managing in England, averaging 1.84 points-per match during his time with Tottenham.
That is a sizeable increase on the 1.31 points-per match Potter has averaged since arriving at Chelsea, indicating Pochettino would be a real upgrade on the Blues’ current manager.
About the Author
