Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino breaks silence on shock exit as club issue short message | Football | Sport
Chelsea have issued a very short statement following the shock news that Mauricio Pochettino has left the club by mutual consent. The Argentine leaves the Blues just a few days following the finale of the Premier League season, with the side enjoying an upturn in form late on.
Their recent improvement has made Pochettino’s departure even more surprising, with Todd Boehly and co now set to draw up a shortlist of replacements for the Argentine. It is the latest chapter in what is a turbulent time at the club since the American’s arrival.
In a very brief statement announcing the move, the Premier League outfit said: “Chelsea FC can confirm that the Club and Mauricio Pochettino have mutually agreed to part ways.”
Meanwhile, sporting Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season. He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
The club announced that Pochettino’s backroom staff Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino have also left Stamford Bridge with the former Tottenham manager.
Pochettino also delivered a very brief message, simply saying: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history. The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
The Telegraph have reported that discussions with sporting directors Winstanley and Stewart, as well as co-controlling owner, Behdad Eghbali, eventually led to Pochettino parting ways with the club.
The report also adds that Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness, Girona’s Miche, Ipswich Town hero Kieran McKenna and his Leicester counterpart Enzo Maresca are all under consideration to take over.
It will yet again be another chaotic summer at Stamford Bridge, with Boehly likely to splash the cash on transfers while now also looking for a replacement for Pochettino.