Mauricio Pochettino had doubts over two huge Chelsea signings before departure
Chelsea announced Mauricio Pochettino’s departure on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)
Mauricio Pochettino had major reservations over Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea’s two most expensive signings of all time, before leaving the club, it has emerged.
It was announced on Tuesday evening that Pochettino and Chelsea had parted ways by mutual consent, just days after the Argentine had steered the club to European football with a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League.
It proved a difficult debut season for Pochettino in west London but there was a feeling amongst supporters that the tide was beginning to turn in their favour, as the Blues finished the campaign on a high with five straight victories.
But the search for Pochettino’s successor is now underway and a host of high-profile names are being linked with the vacant position at Stamford Bridge, including the likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Tuchel, Thomas Frank and Enzo Maresca.
Pochettino’s future was thrown into serious doubt after Chelsea’s final game of the season against Bournemouth, with the 52-year-old unable to confirm whether or not he would still be in charge come the start of next season.
And while Pochettino’s exit is believed to have been amicable, it’s clear the ex-Tottenham and PSG manager was less than impressed with certain situations and recruitment decisions – which occurred without his collaboration – behind the scenes during his brief tenure.
According to The Athletic, Pochettino quickly developed doubts over the ‘quality and balance’ within his young and inexperienced squad and was never truly convinced about the combination of Caicedo and Fernandez in the middle of the park.
Pochettino was never truly won over by Caicedo and Fernandez (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea twice broke their transfer record to bring in Caicedo (£115m) and Fernandez (£107m) last summer and it’s claimed Pochettino had immediate doubts over whether the latter was ‘destructive’ enough to be a No.6.
In private, Pochettino also questioned if Fernandez possessed the necessary creativity to be a top-level No.8 and felt that the two big-money arrivals lacked the size and power, as a midfield pairing, to compete with the very best in the Premier League.
The report adds that Pochettino thought highly of Conor Gallagher – who wore the captain’s armband in Reece James’ absence for much of the campaign – but the England midfielder now appears a ‘prime candidate’ to be sold in the summer transfer window.
It’s understood Pochettino is keen to make an immediate return to management ahead of the 2024/25 season and Manchester United have been mooted as a possible destination, with Erik ten Hag’s future in the balance.
United’s new co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is said to be a long-term admirer of the ex-Argentina international, who missed out on the Old Trafford job back in 2022.
The likes of Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter and Kieran McKenna are also believed to be on United and INEOS’ shortlist of candidates who could replace Ten Hag in the hot seat after the FA Cup final.
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