6 Reasons Why Chelsea Made a Mistake by Firing Pochettino
Chelsea has decided to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the 2023-2024 season. While the team’s performance had its ups and downs, firing Pochettino might have been premature and potentially detrimental to the club’s future. Here’s why I believe this move was a mistake.
Chelsea’s End-of-Season Turnaround
Despite a disappointing start, Chelsea managed to turn things around towards the end of the season, finishing 4th in the 2024 standings. This improvement indicated that Pochettino’s methods were beginning to take effect. The team showed resilience and cohesion, suggesting that given more time, Pochettino could have led Chelsea to even better results.
This late-season surge demonstrated that Pochettino’s strategies were starting to pay off. The team’s improved performances were a testament to his ability to adapt and overcome challenges. By sacking him, Chelsea have potentially derailed this progress, putting themselves back at square one.
Instability at the Club
Chelsea’s frequent managerial changes have created an unstable environment. Since Todd Boehly took over, the club has seen multiple managers come and go, with Pochettino being the latest casualty. Since September 2022, when Chelsea parted ways with Tuchel, the club has seen four managers: Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor (for 4 days but still he was a manager at Chelsea for 4 days), Frank Lampard and Mauricio Pochettino.
This instability affects player morale and disrupts the continuity necessary for long-term success. Constant changes make it difficult for the team to develop a consistent playing style and build the chemistry needed to perform at the highest level. Just think about having a different manager every couple of months at work. That would be quite frustrating.
The average number of days a manager spent at Chelsea is 960 days. None of the last 10 managers came even close to hitting this number.
Pochettino’s Proven Abilities in Player Development
Pochettino has a solid track record when it comes to player development. At Tottenham, he turned the team into Premier League contenders and reached a Champions League final. His ability to develop young players could have greatly benefited Chelsea in the long run.
Consider how he developed players like Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Son Heung-min at Tottenham. These players thrived under his management, developing from promising talents into world-class performers. At Chelsea, Pochettino had the potential to work similar magic with the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Reece James, Cole Palmer and other young stars.
After all, that’s why Pochettino was hired. To rebuild the team and develop new talents, and grow new signings, especially since Chelsea has invested loads of cash into young and upcoming world class talent. Their latest signing of Willian Estevao is proof of them wanting to continue with this strategy.
Yet player development takes time, and more than one season. Look how Alexander-Arnold bloomed under Jurgen Klopp and how much time it took for him to cement his play style, and he enjoyed the stability of Klopp’s reign at Liverpool.
Player Support and Developing Relationships
Reports indicated that Pochettino had the support of the players. Maintaining a positive relationship with the squad is crucial for any manager. The players’ backing suggested that they were beginning to buy into his methods and philosophy. Firing him despite this support could lead to unrest and further instability within the team, just when things started to get better.
Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Cucurella, all had a very positive relationship with Pochettino and their performance was starting to get a lot better. Even John Terry, former Chelsea legend expressed his disappointment with the move.
🔵🇸🇳 Nico Jackson’s comment after Mauricio Pochettino news: “🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️” pic.twitter.com/UslmwAZc0m
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 21, 2024
Financial Implications After Heavy Spending on Transfers
The decision to sack Pochettino has significant financial repercussions. The cost of terminating his contract and those of his coaching staff is substantial. Considering Chelsea’s heavy spending on transfers, this additional financial burden could have been avoided. Moreover, there were concerns about potential breaches of financial fair play regulations, which might have been exacerbated by this decision.
In an era where financial prudence is increasingly important, Chelsea’s decision to incur additional costs by sacking Pochettino seems counterproductive. These funds could have been better spent on strengthening the squad or improving club facilities. Instead, the financial strain of yet another managerial change adds unnecessary pressure to the club’s budget.
Disagreement Over Transfer Strategy
Another critical issue was the disagreement over transfer strategy. Pochettino wanted to have more say in the club’s transfer decisions, which is entirely reasonable given that he was the one managing the team and working with the players daily. It’s normal for a coach to have input into the transfer strategy to ensure that the new signings fit the team’s needs and the manager’s vision. The lack of alignment on this front likely contributed to the decision to part ways, but in my view, this was a mistake. Allowing Pochettino more control over transfers could have helped build a more cohesive and competitive squad.
A manager’s input is crucial in the transfer market. They understand the team’s tactical needs and can identify the types of players who will fit their system. By sidelining Pochettino in transfer decisions, Chelsea missed an opportunity to build a squad tailored to his vision. This disconnect between management and the coach is a recipe for discord and inefficiency.
Addressing the Team’s Issues
This season’s struggles weren’t solely Pochettino’s fault. The team faced numerous challenges, including injuries and integrating many new signings. These issues require time to resolve. Given his track record, Pochettino could have addressed these challenges effectively with more time. A new manager will face the same problems and will need time to implement their ideas, continuing the cycle of instability.
Injuries to key players disrupted Chelsea’s season, making it difficult for Pochettino to field a consistent starting XI. Additionally, integrating new signings into the team’s structure is a process that requires careful management and time. By giving Pochettino more time, these issues could have been addressed more effectively, leading to better performances and results.
Conclusion
In my opinion, Chelsea’s decision to fire Mauricio Pochettino was shortsighted. Stability, patience, and a clear vision are essential for sustained success, and Pochettino could have provided that given more time. The club needs to break the cycle of constant managerial changes and invest in a long-term strategy. I believe that sticking with Pochettino would have been a step in the right direction.
The end-of-season turnaround and the players’ support for Pochettino suggest that he was on the right track. His proven ability to develop talent and his reasonable desire to have a say in transfer strategy highlight the potential for long-term success that Chelsea has now squandered. The financial implications and the uncertainty surrounding potential replacements add to the reasons why this decision may backfire. Chelsea needs to rethink its approach and prioritize stability and a long-term vision to achieve sustained success.
