Chelsea manager becomes top favourites for AC Milan job
The section of Chelsea fans who want Mauricio Pochettino out of the club could get their wish early as new reports from Italy claim that AC Milan want the former Argentina international in the dugout.
Pochettino has struggled with a lot of injuries and a lot of players since taking over at Chelsea in the summer of 2023. An o rebooted squad followed by fitness issues held him back from fully unleashing on the league. However, he has started to find his footing and even the Chelsea owners led by Todd Boehly have come out to endorse him.
“We’ve seen the last two and a half games, at least in the second half at Aston Villa (2-2 draw) and Tottenham (2-0 win) and West Ham (5-0 win) where we played just beautiful football," Boehly said in an interview.
"It was so fluid, it was exactly the way we drew it up, when we came out of the back, built up and moved up the pitch, (it was) very organised and the number of shots we had on board. In those two and a half games, you could really start to see what we were working on coming together. Even the commentary has changed over the last two and a half games. I’ve never seen anything change so quickly.”
Despite the public backing, Boehly and his co-owners have scheduled a meeting to decide the former Tottenham Hotspur manager's fate at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino himself has also admitted to uncertainty about his continuity in the role beyond this season.
"If we are happy, perfect. But it is not only if the owners are happy or the sporting directors happy. If we are happy, you need to ask us also because maybe we are not happy and we accept the situation and we need to split,” he said.
“It is not going to be the first time the coaching staff, at the end of the season, decide to not keep going.”
The drama surrounding the former Paris Saint-Germain boss, the fans who want him out and the owners who do not have full confidence in him could be over soon thanks to the emergence of a new player.
AC Milan are looking to move on from Stefano Pioli in the summer and reports have claimed that Pochettino is their main target to replace the Italian tactician.
Brighton and Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi, Mark Van Bommel and Julen Lopetegui are also in the running but Pochettino has risen up the list to become their preferred replacement for Pioli.
Pochettino has also been linked to Juventus but it is unknown if the Bianconeri are planning a dugout reshuffle for the summer.
The outcome of the leadership meeting will determine Pochettino’s future. More reports will be brought to you as developments occur in the story.