CHELSEA’S players were shocked and “devastated” to discover Mauricio Pochettino’s exit via social media.
The Argentine became the third full-time head coach to depart Stamford Bridge in less than two years since Todd Boehly and their Clearlake owners took over.
Pochettino, 52, led Chelsea to a fifth-straight Premier League win with Sunday’s 2-1 home win over Bournemouth.
That final match in charge proved to be enough to clinch sixth place and a return to European football after a year out.
The likes of Cole Palmer, who shared an emotional statement of gratitude after the news broke online, have flourished under Poch’s tutelage this term despite a rocky start to the campaign.
However, the squad has been rocked after it was confirmed last night that the ex-Tottenham coach has left by mutual consent.
Sun Sport understands that a number of the players are “devastated” by the news.
And, even worse, they only found out about it on social media.
We also understand that some directors were caught cold by the sudden announcement of Pochettino’s exit last night.
Poch kept his final years short and sweet in a statement that read: “Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and sporting directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history.
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“The club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.”
His exit comes after an end-of-season review with Chelsea sporting director Paul Winstanley and co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali.
A disagreement over his contract was a factor in his decision to depart the Blues despite him still having another 12 months left with an option of a further year’s extension.
He wanted that to be changed to a fixed period but Chelsea were reluctant.
Blues coaches Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Pochettino’s son Sebastiano have also left.
Pochettino won 27 of his 51 games in charge, drawing ten and losing 14, while guiding Blues to a sixth-placed finish that secured Europa League football.
The club also played at Wembley twice after reaching an FA Cup semi-final and the Carabao Cup final, where they suffered a cruel 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
We revealed last night that Chelsea want a “young, progressive coach” with Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna high on the wanted list.
The 38-year-old Northern Irishman has led the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions into the Premier League.
HERE we go again.
Just when some positivity was building around the place and an optimistic eye was being cast to the future, Clearlake Capital go hurtling full pelt back to the drawing board, write SunSport’s Tom Sheen.
Mauricio Pochettino leaving will make it six different managers in less than two years when next season rolls around, a record that would make Roman Abramovich blush.
But while the oligarch was keeping Chelsea’s HR department busy by regularly handing out P45s, he was also regularly delivering world class players in the hope of delivering instant silverware.
There was no ‘Vision 2030’, talk of players as financial assets or ridiculous eight-year contracts that potentially hamstring the club.
Hiring and firing worked under the previous regime because Chelsea had a spine of world class talent that they were always looking to improve upon – not a group of players who look light years away from the top teams in the land.
One thing is for sure, though. If Clearlake carry on down this road they’ll need a rebrand to Vision 2060.
Click here to read Tom’s damning verdict in full…
And he is now viewed as an ideal fit to mirror the club’s young playing squad.
That was the same philosophy that Chelsea had when taking Graham Potter from Brighton – although he was sacked after seven months.
Recently departed Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi is another in the frame and he was also considered before Pochettino took over last summer.
But the Italian’s fiery personality meant he was rejected as “not the right fit” for the ownership.
Meanwhile, Pochettino may not be out of work for very long after his departure from West London.
He is in the frame to be the new Manchester United boss two years after missing out as Erik ten Hag clings onto his job at Old Trafford.
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