Chelsea owners' four demands to Mauricio Pochettino ahead of 2024/25 season
Chelsea's owners have made clear what's expected of Mauricio Pochettino next season with a list of demands.
Pochettino helped secure European football for the Blues by ending the 2023/24 campaign with five consecutive wins, concluding with a 2-1 victory at home to Bournemouth on Sunday. He recovered from a poor start which saw pressure mount on him.
But while it was a much more positive second half of the season, the Stamford Bridge hierarchy want to see further improvements from the Argentine come August – or he'll be back under the microscope again.
An open letter was shared with fans in yesterday's matchday programme. The board of directors wrote: “There have been some moments of frustration, many others to cherish, and countless reasons to be optimistic and excited for the years ahead.
“We are now approaching the second anniversary since becoming custodians of this incredible club and it remains an absolute privilege to hold that position.”
They then set out their list of aims, including competing for the Premier League and Women's Super League titles. Pochettino is expected to achieve at least a top-four finish to bring Champions League nights back to the Bridge, and be competitive in the domestic competitions – as Chelsea were this season – with the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Todd Boehly and Co want to focus on bringing through the new generation of stars from their academy, something Pochettino championed at Tottenham and has already shown this year with the likes of Alfie Gilchrist.
Chelsea Owner Todd Boehly & Director Behdad Eghbali look on prior to the Carabao Cup Final match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium on February 25, 2024
They demand of themselves "being responsible actors and contributors to our community" and making sure the club meet Financial Fair Play rules and other regulations. And overall, they want to "earn the trust and confidence of our supporters" having failed to convincingly do so thus far.
The clock is ticking for Pochettino, who is only under contract until next summer and has a £1billion squad at his disposal – albeit one that could be culled to ensure the Premier League Profit & Sustainability guidelines aren't breached.
He and his players will discover which European competition they've qualified for after next Saturday's FA Cup final. Victory for Manchester United will leave them settling for the Europa Conference League, but a Manchester City triumph will give them Europa League qualification.
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