May 18, (THEWILL) – Mauricio Pochettino made a startling revelation by admitting he harboured fears about his job security after Chelsea’s humiliating 4-2 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season. The Argentine manager found himself on the receiving end of boos and dismissal chants from furious Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge following the shocking loss in February.
Chelsea’s seventh English Premier League setback in 14 matches left them languishing in 11th place, with Pochettino’s inaugural season at the helm teetering on the brink of catastrophe. Despite Chelsea’s lavish expenditure exceeding £1 billion on new acquisitions over the past two years, Wolves exhibited superior fitness and commitment, a damning indictment of the Blues’ performance.
Pochettino confessed the Wolves debacle marked his lowest ebb during his turbulent tenure at Chelsea, prompting grave concerns about his job prospects. “I think after Wolves,” he candidly acknowledged when queried about the possibility of dismissal, alluding to the aftermath, including a contentious tweet from defender Thiago Silva’s wife that seemed to call for his sacking.
Though guiding Chelsea to the League Cup final and FA Cup semi-finals, where they suffered defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City respectively, Pochettino lamented the profound sense of isolation experienced after the Wolves loss. “You feel like everyone is regarding you as culpable for something you’re unaware of,” he said, recounting the team’s erratic EPL form that heaped immense pressure on him.
While recently hinting at resignation or dismissal, Pochettino remains resolute in his pursuit of European qualification, deeming a mere Europa League berth unsatisfactory for Chelsea’s stature. As the season concludes, the embattled manager’s future might seem uncertain, with Sunday’s Bournemouth clash next on their schedule but the management of the Blues have not shown any commitment to ending his time at Stamford Bridge just yet.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
