- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that Mauricio Pochettino believes that he is the right man to take Chelsea forward and has made his feelings clear to the club’s hierarchy.
However, HITC has been told that a significant part of the club’s leadership believe a change is required.
The club are pleased with the recent upturn in form, but there are some who are not convinced that this is enough for Pochettino to keep his job.
The Argentinian became Chelsea boss last summer having spent a year out of management upon leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
Pochettino returned to London some four years after being axed by Tottenham Hotspur and joined up with their rivals Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter both lost their jobs at Chelsea in the 2022-23 season and Pochettino isn’t safe from the same fate just yet.
Chelsea interested in other managers
HITC understands that Chelsea have been doing their due diligence on potential replacements, should they indeed replace Pochettino.
Sporting Libson’s Ruben Amorim – someone the club liked before appointing Pochettino – is one name on the radar.
Amorim was not ready to move at that point, but sources close to the Portuguese have told HITC that he is now ready to make a move and England is somewhere he is open to moving to this summer.
Amorim just guided Sporting to a second league title in the last four seasons and has a strong reputation as a top young coach.
Former German and Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick is a name that is also on Chelsea’s radar, along with Max Allegri – who looks set to leave Juventus this summer.
HITC understands the club also appreciate the work of Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi and Xabi Alonso, but the latter has committed his immediate future to Bayer Leverkusen, turning down Bayern Munich and Liverpool in the process.
Chelsea form under Pochettino
Chelsea hammered West Ham United 5-0 on Sunday afternoon to continue their decent run of form.
It’s now just one defeat in the last 12 Premier League games for Chelsea.
The Blues have drawn five times in that run but Pochettino has overseen some good results of late.
Chelsea now sit seventh in the Premier League table, two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United and six points behind a struggling Tottenham side.
Pochettino could yet secure European football for next season as Chelsea weigh up their managerial options this summer.