Gary Neville believes Mauricio Pochettino is “absolutely the right man” for Chelsea and should be given more time at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino is under increased pressure having overseen a disappointing season for the club, which will end with no silverware, and the possibility of no European football for the second consecutive campaign.
The Blues find themselves ninth in the league with just five games remaining, and sit five points behind Newcastle in seventh, and six behind Manchester United in sixth, having played a game less than their rivals.
A lot of Chelsea supporters have become disillusioned under the 52-year-old and believe the club should be making a change at the end of the season.
Pochettino has been criticised for a lack of tactical flexibility and in game management, as well as questionable team selections, but despite poor results, he crucially still maintains backing within the boardroom.
However, Neville believes the Argentine is the right man for the job and when asked if he should be given me time he told The Gary Neville Podcast:
“Definitely, I think he’s absolutely the right man to work with young players, we’ve seen what he did at Southampton bringing young players through, developing them, we saw what he did at Tottenham.
“I wouldn’t mess with Mauricio Pochettino at all, I think he deserves another transfer window, I think he definitely deserves the idea of completing the jigsaw of the three positions that everyone knows they’re missing, and then at that point we can judge him.”
Speculation has been rife over Pocehttino’s future with the club’s bosses set to sit down and discuss his future with him at the end of the season.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi have been linked with taking over if Pochettino is relieved of his duties at the end of the season.
Next up for Pochettino is a crucial London derby against his former club Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, where anything but a win could be fatal to his chances of being in charge next season.
