Mauricio Pochettino turns down Chelsea approach to replace Graham Potter
According to sources from 90min, Mauricio Pochettino has declined an initial offer to take over from Graham Potter as Chelsea’s manager.
Potter is currently facing mounting pressure as Chelsea’s boss due to the team’s poor performance, having won only one match in 2023, leaving them in tenth place in the Premier League table after 23 games.
Despite spending around £600m on squad investments since the club was taken over by a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital Group last year, they have only managed to win eight league games this season, and are currently 11 points behind the Champions League qualification spots.
Graham Potter was brought in as Chelsea’s manager to replace Thomas Tuchel in September, despite Tuchel’s Champions League-winning success.
Since then, Potter has been struggling to improve the team’s performance and results on the pitch, although Todd Boehly, the leader of the consortium that owns the club, has been standing by his appointment.
However, according to 90min sources, there are members within the club’s hierarchy who are highly concerned about the team’s poor form and do not share Boehly’s confidence that Potter can turn things around.
While Boehly has been considering the possibility of replacing Potter, he is not willing to make any changes without having a plan in place first.
According to 90min, Chelsea has been considering the possibility of hiring Mauricio Pochettino as their manager at the highest levels. However, it seems that Pochettino is not yet ready to take on the challenge at Stamford Bridge, despite the initial serious enquiries.
Pochettino is reportedly open to returning to football management but is looking for the right conditions before making a move. Sources suggest that Chelsea does not currently meet the criteria that the Argentine coach is looking for.
Pochettino was last employed at Paris Saint-Germain, winning Ligue 1 in 2022, and is said to be considering a return to football management. He has previously expressed his interest in working in England again, confirming this towards the end of last year.
“I miss the Premier League. I am really open. I love England and I am living between London and Barcelona, but more in London,” he said. “My house, my home. I love to be in England. The Premier League is the best league in the world. It’s so competitive.”
Mauricio Pochettino turns down Chelsea approach to replace Graham Potter
