What next for Chelsea, should Mauricio Pochettino be sacked?

Published on 6 February 2024 at 20:00

A deafening cacophony of anger spiralled around Stamford Bridge during Chelsea’s second-half capitulation against Wolverhampton Wanderers, resulting in a 4-2 loss that saw the West Londoners fall to eleventh in the table.

 

 

A crestfallen Mauricio Pochettino stood staring into the abyss on the touchline, as the blue army declared his head and beaconed for a new manager to take on the insurmountable task of salvaging Todd Boehly’s lost project.

It was a littering of individual errors which hampered the home side, Matheus Cunha scored a deflected goal three minutes after Chelsea took the lead, before Rayan Ait Nouri's shot bounced in off Axel Disasi to give Wolves the lead just before half-time.

Chelsea were disjointed and erratic on the ball, as their assortment of riches on the field continued to struggle gelling together and soon they were two goals behind when Cunha latched onto the end of Pedro Neto's cross. 

A roar of boos descended on the stadium from the home fans, who were later heard chanting "We're S***t" and "We want Abramovich back" as their players struggled to threaten the opposition keeper's goal.

The final sucker punch came in the 83 minute, when Matheus Cunha was gifted his hat-trick. Wolves had outplayed Chelsea in every aspect of the pitch and although Thiago Silva did score a consolation goal late on it wasn't enough to dissipate the harrowing jeers directed at the players and Pochettino.

The charismatic Argentinian was considered the perfect appointment in June, reneowned for his development of youth and effective man-management style. He was intended to be the calm presence amidst the chaos that had unravelled at the club during American billionaire Todd Boehly's first year at the club.

He has taken Chelsea to the Carabao Cup final, and introduced an attacking 4-2-3-1 system which has seen an increase in goals per game and shots per game for the Blues. 

However, they have been wasteful infront of goal squandering more big chances than any other team(47) and have been disorganised in defense conceding 39 goals which is the 14th worst in the league.

While, Chelsea have showcased glimpses of brilliance this season such as the captivating 4-4 draw against reigning champions Manchester City it comes in purple patches and too often they have been inconsistent and average on the pitch.

 

The defeat against Wolves at Stamford Bridge, was their first loss at home since October 28th against Brentford achieving a 10 game unbeaten run. But Chelsea fans are tiresome of their team's wavering form and are desperate for their team to formulate an action plan in order to instil direction at the club and achieve measurable progress.

Prior to the weekend Mauricio Pochettino's job was safe, with the general consensus that Pochettino is doing well considering the deep-routed problems de-stabilising the club and that given time he can turn things around.

However, the manner of Chelsea's uninspiring defeat to Wolves has exacerbated the murmurs for him to be sacked with widespread cries for him to be immediately dismissed by this morning.

The reality is who is out there better equipped, that can change Chelsea's fortunes?

Chelsea have a very serious crisis, their scatter-gun transfer strategy has built a bloated squad consisting of under-performing players who are on eight year deals. The club will not be able to re-cooperate the millions they wasted on them and they risk being stranded with individuals who lack desire to play and want to sit with their paycheques on the sidelines.

Since the LA Dodgers owners takeover the club have consistently declined from one of the most decorated clubs of the last decade into a average middle-table club who lack ambition, are void of direction and have thrown millions of pounds away on players who will never achieve their potential.

 

Mauricio Pochettino is a not a bonafied winner, he averaged the lowest win rate at PSG since 2011 when Qatar Sports bought the French champions and never lifted silverware with his beloved Tottenham.

However, sacking him would be Chelsea shelving the blame of the club's capitulation onto yet another manager. When is this habitual axing of managers going to stop; Tuchel, Potter, Lampard before the hierarchy at the club take responsibility and realise its the structure and decision-making at the top which has completely destroyed this team.

It is fair to scrutinise Pochettino, his tactical decision-making has been questionable across this season and it seems like he has taken this group of players as far as he can. But Chelsea has become the cursed job in football that nobody wants and it's only going to get worse at the club before it gets better.

 

Written by Lewis Eadie

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Jeanette
7 months ago

Ithink he should be sacked we need a stronger coach. he didnt win anything at Tottenham and he wont here