- Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after a season in charge
- It came after the London club had mounted a resurgence in recent months
- IAN LADYMAN: Arsenal will win the Premier League next season – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Manchester United fans have been calling for Mauricio Pochettino to take over from Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
The bombshell news broke on Tuesday evening that the Argentine manager would be parting ways with the club after only one season in charge.
Chelsea had endured a turbulent start to the 2023-24 campaign, and amid a long list of injuries dropped down the league table, before mounting a late resurgence to finish sixth in the standings.
Pressure had mounted on Pochettino, as many questioned why his side, who had spent £1billion on new signings in the past year were not performing up to the standards perhaps expected of them. Yet, the Argentine would seemingly turn things around at the back end of the season, with Chelsea going on a nine-match unbeaten run.
Having noted the 52-year-old’s recent success with his young side, Man United fans took to social media on Tuesday evening to call for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his leadership group to appoint the now out of work Argentine football coach.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent after a single season in charge
Man United fans have been calling for Pochettino to replace Erik ten Hag (pictured) at Old Trafford
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) is yet to make a decision on the Man United manager’s future at Old Trafford
‘United should appoint poch if they know what’s good for them,’ one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Another added I’d take Poch at United,’ another fan said.
One added: ‘Man United sack ETH now and get Poch’.
‘I would take Poch now! He’s the one that got away! If Ten Hag leaves, we should get Poch!’ another said, noting that United had been in the running to sign the former Tottenham manager.
United fans took to social media to call on their club to hire Pochettino instead of Ratcliffe
Speculation had arisen in 2022 that the Red Devils had shortlisted Pochettino as a potential managerial target to succeed caretaker manager Michael Carrick, following the departure of interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
Yet Pochettino reportedly turned down the chance to join Man United, in hopes that he would be appointed Carlo Ancelotti’s successor at Real Madrid.
He’d subsequently land at Chelsea, replacing Graham Potter as the Blues’ permanent manager, after Frank Lampard had taken charge as their interim boss for 11 games.
But after a season at the helm, he will be parting ways with the Blues, after the 52-year-old was subjected to an internal review – led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley, Laurence Stewart and co-controlling owner Behadad Eghbali – following their 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
Pochettino said that the club ‘was well positioned to continue to keep moving forward’ following his exit
The former Tottenham boss departs Stamford Bridge halfway through his two-year contract
The 52-year-old Argentine was subjected to an internal review – led by sporting directors Paul Winstanley (left) and Laurence Stewart (right) as well as co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali
Sporting directors Winstanley and Stewart said in a statment on the Club’s website: ‘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.’
Pochettino added: ‘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.’
It comes amid Erik ten Hag’s uncertain future at Man United after a dismal season at the club, with the Red Devils at risk of failing to qualify for European football next season after their lowest-ever top-flight finish since the 1989-90 season.
While Ratcliffe will not fire the United boss before their FA Cup final against Man City this weekend, there is concern that his leadership group could chose to move in a different direction next season, with Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate and Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna being linked with the managerial position at Old Trafford.
More to follow…
