Mauricio Pochettino is parting ways with Chelsea after a single season, the club declared Tuesday. Despite a rocky start, Pochettino took Chelsea to a sixth-place finish, securing a European spot, a vast improvement from their 12th-place performance in 2022-23. He also guided them to the EFL Cup final and FA Cup semi-final. Only four teams, including Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal, and Newcastle, bested Chelsea in xG in the 2023-24 Premier League season, while just three, consisting of Man City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, exceeded Chelsea’s 215 shots on target. Speculation swirled regarding Pochettino’s future at the tail end of the Premier League season, but he remained tight-lipped. Despite having a year remaining on his contract, Pochettino exits the club immediately. In an official statement, Pochettino expressed gratitude to Chelsea’s ownership and Sporting Directors for the chance to be a part of the club’s history, asserting that Chelsea is poised for success in the Premier League and Europe. Sporting Directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley conveyed their appreciation to Pochettino for his contributions and wished him well in his coaching future, extending an open invitation for him to return to Stamford Bridge.
