Mauricio Pochettino inherited a team that finished 12th in the league, exiting early in domestic cups while scoring a meager 38 league goals. Taking over at Chelsea, he had the liberty to overhaul existing strategies at both Cobham and Stamford Bridge. However, his initial months as the third regular boss under the new ownership group proved tumultuous. Six months into his tenure, Chelsea has managed only four wins in their first 13 Premier League games, despite facing six teams in the bottom half. Although they are scoring more goals, defensive lapses resulted in conceding eight goals in two games before the international break and nine in the last three, with only Luton, Bournemouth, and Fulham finding the net.
The recent 4-1 loss to Newcastle, marked by self-inflicted errors and overall poor performance, revived earlier criticisms from mid-October. Despite victories against top clubs like Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal, Pochettino faced backlash, particularly labeling Chelsea as “soft” in the defeat to Newcastle.
Expectations were high for a positive change under Pochettino’s leadership, given his track record of developing players and fostering club growth. However, despite player and staff turnover, the team’s trends have remained consistent, leading to growing impatience among devoted fans. Though Pochettino has only managed 16 games, comparisons with Thomas Tuchel’s successful stint last year are inevitable, raising concerns about his longevity with the new owners.
While a return to European competition seems distant, financial constraints further complicate matters, necessitating a delicate balance between performance improvement and cost coverage. Despite the challenges, Pochettino faces mounting pressure from fans and comparisons to his predecessor, highlighting the demanding nature of his role at Chelsea.
