Mauricio Pochettino’s future as Chelsea manager remains a mystery to those outside the club, and some pundits think that’s poor from those in charge at Stamford Bridge.
On Talksport, former striker Darren Bent pointed to all the good work that the Argentine had done and said it was “embarrassing” that he didn’t yet have clarity over his future from a club which should be delighted with the coach’s work this season. He is in no doubt that Pochettino should stay for the second season of his contract, and potentially beyond that too.
“[It’s] embarrassing. Pochettino has had his critics this season, right, and he finally gets this Chelsea squad, which has been put together, so many players, so much different change, he finally gets them to a point where it starts to look like my team and they get rid of him. No, you have got to give him next season. You cannot let him do that work,” Bent ranted.
“Like the way they ended the season was incredible. I think they were one of the in-form sides, up there with Arsenal and Manchester City, the last five to 10 games. You can’t get rid of him now. He is now getting a tune out of some of these players. [Moises] Caicedo looks brilliant, scored a great goal. Stick with him.”
The full context matters
It’s certainly an awkward arrangement, but what Bent is missing is the fact that this was clearly agreed from the start. A two year deal, with a review after the first year. This will have been made very clear to the coach, who may be offended by the way it’s being dragged out, but can’t say he wasn’t warned.
For all we know, the coach was been told in his dinner with co-controlling owner Todd Boehly on Friday that he was staying on, and the review will be more of a general assessment of the season and club’s direction rather than a sort of reality TV show style dramatic moment where he discovers if he’s got a second season.