Chelsea close to hiring Mauricio Pochettino as manager

Chelsea is looking at Mauricio Pochettino as the most likely man to take over the managerial role at Stamford Bridge. At one point, the shortlist for the job featured Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti, Julian Nagelsmann and more. However, reports now indicate Chelsea is going with the Premier-League-proven Argentine to take the reigns.

According to The Guardian, negotiations remain ongoing between Pochettino and Chelsea. However, the manager rose to the top of the Chelsea pecking order after Julian Nagelsmann withdrew from consideration for the job. The publication reported positive talks between Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea. There is no contract, nor is there even an official offer on the table. Chelsea’s ownership face increased scrutiny to make the correct hire after what has been a dismal first season in charge at Stamford Bridge.

The revolving door of managers at Chelsea saw Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard all manage games this season. With that much turnover, it is no surprise to see Chelsea at 11th in the Premier League table. To fix that situation, Chelsea wants an elite manager that also has a pedigree in turning clubs around. Pochettino could fit both.

What Mauricio Pochettino would bring to Chelsea

Pochettino spent just over a year at Southampton, arriving when the club was reeling. In his first, and only, full season at Southampton, he led the Saints to an eighth-placed finish in the league. The season prior, Southampton finished 14th after successive promotions from League One and the Championship in 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Tottenham was so impressed with Pochettino that it hired the Argentine immediately after that 2013/14 campaign. After a 2014/15 campaign led the club to a fifth-placed finish and a runner-up spot in the League Cup, Spurs rattled off four-straight top-four finishes. Famously, that included a second-place finish in 2016/17 and a Champions League Final appearance in 2018/19. However, Spurs lost to Liverpool in Madrid.

Five months after that game, Spurs sacked Pochettino, and the club has been on an up-and-down run ever since. PSG wanted Pochettino to be the difference for its Champions League woes, but he underperformed at the club. A league title and a domestic cup over two years were not enough to maintain his spot in France.

Chelsea hopes to unlock some of the balance and consistency Pochettino brought to Tottenham if it can lure him into Stamford Bridge.

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