Paul Merson has branded Chelsea’s resolution to half methods with supervisor Mauricio Pochettino as ‘insanity’.
The Blues introduced on Tuesday that Pochettino will depart by mutual consent following only one season in cost.
Pochettino was unable to ship silverware at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea spent a lot of the 2023/24 marketing campaign within the backside half of the desk. Nonetheless, a late-season revival noticed them shoot to sixth within the Premier League, guaranteeing them European soccer for subsequent season.
The Argentine additionally guided Chelsea to the EFL Cup closing and FA Cup semi-final, dropping at Wembley to Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis within the respective competitions.
None of that was sufficient to persuade the powers that be at Chelsea that Pochettino was the proper man to guide the membership ahead and the search is now underway for his substitute.
Merson blasts Chelsea Pochettino resolution
Regardless of turning out over 400 instances for Arsenal throughout his enjoying profession, Paul Merson is a boyhood Chelsea fan.
The previous England worldwide — who has lengthy labored as a pundit for Sky Sports activities — was fast to supply a robust response to the information of Pochettino’s departure, branding Chelsea’s resolution as ‘insanity’.
“Simply listening to the information about Pochettino. Can’t imagine he’s gone. Can’t imagine,” Merson mentioned in a video posted on his X (previously Twitter) account.
“Whoever is making these choices… how are you going to exchange a supervisor like him? Simply obtained the crew going, went on an ideal run, obtained into Europe, obtained into sixth within the league from the place they have been. He’s simply obtained this crew enjoying.
“It’s insanity I can’t, can’t, can’t imagine what I’m listening to.”
Response to Poch information #Chelsea ??? pic.twitter.com/FjOE0wX1ia
— Paul Merson (@PaulMerse) Might 21, 2024
Among the many names linked to be Pochettino’s substitute are Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness, Ipswich City’s Kieran McKenna and Enzo Maresca of Leicester Metropolis.
Whoever is available in will face severe strain at a big-spending membership and not using a Premier League title since 2017 or a trophy of any form previously two seasons.