Mauricio Pochettino’s triple gift to next Chelsea manager amid £46.7m boost

Mauricio Pochettino has undoubtedly left Chelsea in a better place than how he found the club when taking over as manager 11 months ago. The Blues were fresh off a disastrous 2022/23 season amidst Pochettino’s arrival with four different names taking charge throughout that nine-month period.

The former Tottenham boss was offered a two-year contract and the stance throughout a turbulent first campaign was always to review his position at the end of the season. A challenging start left many wanting to see Pochettino leave the club but he certainly redeemed himself in the latter stages as he guided Chelsea to five consecutive wins in May.

Because of that form, Chelsea finished in sixth which was enough to secure a European spot for next season. If Manchester United win the FA Cup on Saturday, they will participate in the UEFA Conference League but if Manchester City triumph they will have qualified for the Europa League.

Pochettino did not have to contend with European football and despite the extra fixtures it requires, Chelsea would much prefer to be in it. As such, the man next to take charge of Chelsea will have the opportunity to watch his side compete for an attainable trophy and the added bonuses that could come with it in prize money.

On the topic of finances, Chelsea’s impressive end to the season saw them move up five places from eleventh to sixth and with that has arrived a £15.6million boost. Due to finishing where they did, the Blues will take home £46.7million as opposed to the £31.1million which they would have received if the season ended eight weeks earlier.

With one of Kieran McKenna or Enzo Maresca likely to take over, as they are the two current favourites, many of the positives are to do with money but what Pochettino has done on the pitch cannot be overlooked. Despite a mass turnover of players and some gelling issues, the Argentine certainly got Chelsea playing in 2024.

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Noni Madueke, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson were just a few to show great signs of improvement, not to mention Cole Palmer who took the Premier League by storm in his breakthrough Premier League season.

For Maresca, it would also be a swift reunion given the two were at Manchester City just 12 months ago. In the wake of Pochettino’s exit, many Chelsea players were clearly upset and thus the incoming head coach faces a challenge to get morale back.

Nonetheless, several players have seen their stock rise and as such will hopefully be brimming with confidence heading into the new campaign despite another new manager being instilled. Pochettino’s eventual successor will have him to thank for the extra money in the bank, a place in Europe and a squad of players that seems to be on the up.