Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino have announced their separation by mutual consent, ending the Argentine manager’s tenure at Stamford Bridge after just one season.
Pochettino’s time at Chelsea was a rollercoaster. While the Blues secured European qualification with a late-season surge of five consecutive wins, their overall performance throughout the campaign failed to meet expectations.
Here is a quick look at how it went downhill with Pochettino.
Underperforming Team Due To Transfer Strategy
A significant challenge for Pochettino has been Chelsea’s haphazard approach to transfers. Owner Todd Boehly has splashed the cash on acquiring Europe’s most promising young talents, but this strategy has backfired. Integrating a large influx of new players has proven difficult for Pochettino, and the same struggles plagued his predecessors, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard.
Chelsea’s youthful squad lacks experience and a proven goalscorer. Summer signing Christopher Nkunku is only just returning from a long injury layoff, Romeo Lavia hardly being available, while Nicolas Jackson is yet to consistently find the net. This lack of firepower is reflected in the statistics: According to stats from Premierleague.com, Chelsea are second in the Premier League in missed big chances (73) behind Liverpool (79) and with Nicholas Jackson missing 24 big chances which is the 3 highest in the league. They created a total 87 big chances which is leveled with Arsenal who were able to score 91 goals compared to Chelsea’s 77 goals this season
While a leaky defense would worsen these attacking woes, Chelsea has also conceded a concerning 63 goals, despite their improved form towards the end of the season.
Outdated Tactics?
Another major concern was Pochettino’s tactical approach. Critics argued his style, reliant on high pressing and chaos, was no longer effective in the modern game. They point to the dominance of possession-based tactics employed by Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Pochettino’s peak came during the rise of gegenpressing, a high-octane style that thrived on catching opponents off guard. However, the argument goes that even Klopp has adapted his approach, incorporating elements of positional play. Today’s top teams prioritize controlling the midfield and dictating the tempo, a concept seemingly absent in Pochettino’s philosophy.
This lack of control manifests in Chelsea’s performances. They concede a high number of chances, especially when the intensity drops. The team also struggles to break down teams that sit deep and deny them space.
While Pochettino utilizes a box midfield formation, critics argue it lacks the structure and spacing seen in teams coached by Guardiola or Arteta. His perceived inflexibility in adapting his tactics to different situations raises concerns.
Beyond Tactics: Pochettino’s Managerial Ability
Pochettino is known for his man-management skills and ability to motivate players. However, his tactical shortcomings and questionable in-game decisions were also a cause for concern. Late substitutions, lack of clear patterns of play, and ineffective team talks are cited as examples.
Some fans believed Pochettino lacks the tactical nous of managers like Tuchel. His success in big games is attributed to his style’s inherent suitability for such occasions, rather than tactical outsmarting of opponents.
While Chelsea’s attack has improved under Pochettino, their defense was abysmal. Critics argued that solving one problem (attack) by creating another (defense) is not a sign of good coaching.
Recent reports suggest Pochettino’s training methods might be outdated, potentially contributing to the high injury rate. While the evidence here is not conclusive, it adds to the worries surrounding his overall approach.
Underperformance and Calls for Change
Even with mitigating factors like a young squad and injuries, Pochettino himself has acknowledged that Chelsea is underperforming. He has called for his players to take responsibility alongside him, admitting, “At the moment we’re not matching the history of the club.”
The manager recognizes the frustration of the fans and has expressed a desire to find solutions. “The perception is Chelsea should be in a different position. To understand the fans is really important,” he said. “We want to apologise. We are disappointed like them but we need to fight together. We need to stay together.”
Pochettino has emphasized the need for support for his young squad but has also acknowledged the demands of managing a club like Chelsea, known for its impatience with underperforming managers.
Is It Right To Sack Him?
Pochettino’s year at Chelsea was a tale of two halves. While a late-season surge of five consecutive wins secured European qualification, the overall performance fell short of expectations. A strong showing in cup competitions, reaching the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semi-final, wasn’t enough to salvage the season.
The Blues battled a crippling injury list throughout the campaign, hindering player consistency and tactical cohesion. Both young signings and established veterans struggled to find consistent form, contributing to the team’s underwhelming performances.
After his sack, Chelsea fans were divided over if sacking him was the right thing to do. While some argued that it made no sense to sack him after he finally got his team to be playing football the right way consequently securing them european football, other insist the decision to sack him was right and he recent form was actually due to other teams being poor towards the end of the season
Pochettino’s departure marks the fifth managerial change at Chelsea in just two years. Including interim stints by Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard, the Clearlake Capital-Boehly group’s ownership has been characterized by a revolving door in the manager’s office.
