Q&A: What next for Chelsea and departing head coach Mauricio Pochettino?

Chelsea are searching for a new head coach following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino by mutual consent.

The Argentinian led the Blues to the Carabao Cup final and European qualification via a sixth-placed Premier League finish during 11 months in the role.

Here, we take a closer look at the situation at Stamford Bridge.

Why has Pochettino left?

Pochettino, who had another season remaining on the contract he signed last summer, was always set for talks with the club’s owners at the end of the season. The discussions are believed to have been amicable. Yet, while co-owner Todd Boehly had spoken positively about Pochettino’s work, it is thought the board felt the club should have finished higher in the table. Speculation about Pochettino’s future dominated the Premier League run-in and, earlier this month, he claimed leaving early “would not be the end of the world”. Ultimately, differences with the owners regarding the club’s future direction appear to have been insurmountable.

How did the former Tottenham and Paris St Germain boss perform?

In many respects, Pochettino did a good job in testing circumstances. He arrived after Chelsea ended a tumultuous 2022-23 campaign featuring three managers in 12th position – their lowest finish since 1994 – despite spending £747million on transfers. Following a further outlay of around £400m on players, including top-scorer Cole Palmer, he was tasked with gelling a large squad of young talent. Chelsea were in the bottom half of the table as recently as early April. Yet the team firmly clicked into gear in the final weeks of what was bound to be another transitional campaign and were the fourth best performing top-flight club in 2024 – behind champions Manchester City and title