Pochettino leaves, Mourinho verdict - Final Chelsea manager decision as replacement 'lined up'

Mauricio Pochettino's future at Chelsea remains up in the air despite a string of positive results. Talk of a departure grew significantly in April following the 5-0 defeat to Arsenal, but four wins from five league games have followed that humbling with the Blues in a great position to play European football next season.

After salvaging a draw with Aston Villa, Chelsea went on to beat Tottenham and West Ham without conceding, significantly alleviating any pressure on Pochettino. With that in mind, it was certainly a surprise to hear Pochettino suggest he may leave Chelsea this summer.

"If we are happy then it's perfect, but it's not only if the owners are happy, " he said before the clash against Nottingham Forest. "Because you need to ask us also, because maybe we are not happy and we need to split.

"It would not be the first time a coaching staff decided to not keep going. Tomorrow I could say I am going to leave. It's two parts if they make a decision and it's not only if Chelsea are not happy, the owner is not happy, the sporting director is not happy.

"Maybe we are not happy because we arrived here with a job to do, but in the end it's not what we expect. I am not saying I am not happy. If we split it's not a problem, it will not be the end of the world." Pochettino's comments, while surprising, could have certainly been a firm response to the backlash he has received and thus a message to the owners.

Following the final day clash against Bournemouth, Todd Boehly and Co. will make a decision on his future at the club and while it is likely he continues, never say never when it comes to manager sackings at Chelsea.

Here, football.london provides a number of verdicts on the future of Pochettino and the potential names to replace him if he departs at the end of the season.

Kieran Horn

Given the challenges he has faced this season, the mere idea of sacking Pochettino now seems bewildering. The Blues have struggled at points that is obvious but to come away from this season with a European qualification spot would be some achievement.

Pochettino has also led Chelsea to the brink of two cups all while injuries have absolutely ravaged his squad with one marquee summer signing and the club captain barely featuring. However, given the disrespect he has been shown by both the fanbase and ownership, who could blame Pochettino for wanting to leave?

At the end of the day, it seems as though he is going to lose one of his most valuable players in Conor Gallagher simply because of the club's vast spending. If that scenario does play out, finding a replacement will be quite the challenge despite the obvious suggestions.

Thomas Tuchel and Jose Mourinho are both out of work but there is a reason for that and a reunion for either at Stamford Bridge would simply make zero sense. Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton departure was a shock but again he does not appear the right man for the job and this is where Kieran McKenna comes in.

According to reports, he is an option for the Blues if Pochettino does not continue but his appointment would be a significant risk. In all honesty, Chelsea are better off continuing with the Argentine and potentially even rewarding him with a contract extension if positive results continue.

Isaac Seelochan

I've said in a previous piece that I have never been sold on the idea of Pochettino delivering trophy-winning success at Stamford Bridge. That hasn't changed even though Chelsea have hit a bit of form.

The Argentine is a popular figure in the media and did a relatively good job at Tottenham to help them compete for Premier League glory in 2016 and 2017. Spurs also reached the Champions League final in 2019, an amazing achievement for any Tottenham side.

But the crucial ingredient missing when it comes to Poch is silverware with league and cup titles in France at a lavishly funded PSG his only major trophies as a manager. It's hardly that impressive.

Qualifying for the Europa League or Conference League should not be considered a success with the money spent at Chelsea. A top four finish should be their aim and they've come nowhere near that.

However, with the Blues appearing to be on an upward curve it would make little sense to rip it up and start again. The idea of Kieran McKenna sounds great but he needs to prove himself in the top flight first. If he gets the Brighton job then that should give a clear indication of how good a manager he is at the highest level.

Bruna Reis

I believe that if Chelsea want to challenge for trophies then parting ways with Mauricio Pochettino would make sense. Yes, the team has seen an upturn in form in recent games but after their lavish spending of £450million last summer, there was expectation for them to finish higher in the table, but they have failed to deliver.

It is no doubt that injuries have had a major impact this season and while Pochettino is a likeable manager, he has failed to deliver titles when managing Premier League teams. During his five-year stint at Tottenham, the Argentine struggled to add to the trophy cabinet, despite a huge achievement of reaching the Champions League final in 2019 and challenging for the Premier League title with Chelsea during the 2016/17 season.

He has only won three trophies in his career and that was during his spell with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won the French Cup, the Super Cup and Ligue 1. Given how much was spent in transforming the Chelsea squad, finishing in sixth or seventh place despite securing European football, is not enough for a club the size of Chelsea and it shouldn't be regarded as a successful season given Todd Boehly's ambitions.

In regards to the Kieran McKenna links, I believe that if Chelsea part ways with Pochettino, they will need to go for someone who is more experienced in the top-flight. What McKenna has achieved with Ipswich this season is remarkable but following Ipswich's promotion to the Premier League, it will be his first stint in top-flight football. There are other proven managers out there and currently two out of a job in Jose Mourinho and Thomas Tuchel.

Tom Coley

On the eve of the final day of the season Pochettino will not have been a happy man if he spent much time reading the latest news. Having turned things around in the past month - getting himself on course to somehow meet most expectations of his first year in charge - reports of a new managerial target remain.

McKenna is certainly someone that is understandably linked to top jobs due to his work with Mourinho and now in charge of Ipswich, but it all feels a little too soon. It took someone of Pochettino's calibre to navigate this tough season at Stamford Bridge and with respect to McKenna, it would be a totally different ball game.

The former United coach is someone to look at in a few years' time, much like Vincent Kompany, not to be seriously eyeing up right now. However, just sounding out his interest doesn't indicate a change. I expected Chelsea to stick with Pochettino this summer one way or another. Anything else at this point would be crazy given the instability at the club.