Despite Chelsea's strong finish to the season, finishing sixth in the table and likely qualifying for the UEFA Europa League next season, the London giants decided to part ways with head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
This decision was announced on Tuesday following the Blues' end-of-season internal review led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart as well as co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali. The Argentine tactician and the Stamford Bridge higher-ups mutually decided to part ways following their meeting, with insiders describing this development as "amicable" and "respectful", as per the Daily Mail.
However, this does not mean the decision went down well in Chelsea's dressing room. According to a separate report by the Daily Mail, the decision to part ways with Mauricio has sparked a meltdown in the players' Whatsapp group.
Pochettino was a popular figure among the players mainly due to his man-management, with the former Spurs boss often shielding them from criticism and putting an arm around their shoulders when needed. Additionally, he showed patience both privately and publicly with the young and inexperienced players, of which Chelsea have many.
Nicolas Jackson was the most vocal with his frustration, taking to Instagram to post a picture of Pochettino with a facepalm emoji in his stories. The 22-year-old later thanked the tactician for their time together and wished Mauricio and his family all the best.
Nicolas Jackson on his Instagram story after hearing the news of Mauricio Pochettino's departure from Chelsea. pic.twitter.com/XdXR4GEiD7
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 22, 2024
Jackson, in particular, falls into the previously mentioned category. The Senegalese arrived in West London as a talented but raw attacker. As a result, he was inconsistent at the start of the season and picked up flack from fans and pundits.
Despite this, he finished the campaign strong, scoring 17 goals across all competitions for the London giants, which is more than Didier Drogba managed in his Chelsea debut.
Additionally, Moises Caicedo, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and Marc Cucurella also issued heartfelt goodbyes to the Argentine, showing insight into the overall sentiment in the Chelsea dressing room.
According to several sources, one of the key sticking points was Pochettino's role at the club and whether he would be afforded more control over key decisions. The Argentine wanted a bigger say at the club while the owners preferred the head coach focus on coaching the players they provide him with.
The 52-year-old believed the club needed experience and not additional young players. However, Chelsea are set to commit a whopping €60M to 17-year-old Brazilian starlet Estêvão Willian. Additionally, the club are looking to sell Trevor Chalobah and Conor Gallagher, who would represent pure profit on their books because they are academy graduates, but Pochettino was against this.
Additionally, Mauricio was not in favor of hiring a set-piece coach. However, the higher-ups went ahead with that plan regardless, poaching Brentford guru Bernardo Cueva — though Pochettino eventually accepted this appointment.
Several names have been linked with the Stamford Bridge job following Pochettino's shocking departure. This list includes Stuttgart's Sebastian Hoeness, Girona's Michel, Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna, Leicester's Enzo Maresca, and Brentford's Thomas Frank. Meanwhile, Mauricio is being touted as a possible Erik ten Hag replacement at Manchester United should Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co. decide to sack the under-fire Dutchman.