Mauricio Pochettino resume work as Chelsea’s new manager early this month following his appointment at the end of last season. The Argentine tactician becomes the third Chelsea manager since Todd Boehly took over the West London Club.
Chelsea slumped to 12th place finish season last season and missed out on European football this season. One of Their poor performances in the Premier League despite heavy investment in the transfer market by the Todd Boehly-led administration.
Pochettino is beginning to have an early impact on Chelsea as the Blues are yet to lose a game in their preseason friendlies. He is expected to make Chelsea competitive again and qualify them for the Champions League next season.
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell believes Mauricio Pochettino will improve the team and finish within the top four this season.
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What did Steve Sidwell?
Steve said via Sky Bet Fan Hope Survey: “Chelsea will finish higher than sixth this season. I can’t see them being any worse than last season.
“Last year] there were a lot of changes – managers, players. I am a little bit worried in terms of experienced players; a lot of players have gone out.
“There’s not a lot of activity with players coming in at the moment, especially on the more experienced side.
“I do, however, believe they’ll finish in a top-four place. Mauricio Pochettino was a great addition. He’s a manager that’s worked with high-profile players, players with egos.
“He’s a personal manager as well, that’s what’s needed, certainly with a lot of individuals within that dressing room.
“He’s going to galvanise that dressing room, that squad – he has a good preseason to work with as well and he’ll hope to get off to a flying start.”
Sidwell also added that he hopes Mauricio Pochettino is given time at Chelsea to establish his brand of football.
He added: “Chelsea managers will always be under pressure. That’s the nature of the club; the new owners, when they came in, said it wasn’t going to be for Graham Potter, but the club is built on success.
“You’re hoping with [Mauricio] Pochettino in as manager, he will be allowed time – he’s got to be given time to establish his own ways.
“To play his brand of football and his own ways around the club, as well as the players adapting to his style. But it is Chelsea Football Club at the end of the day.
“He’ll last the course; he’ll want to get off to a flying start, as will the players. He’s obviously got that history with Tottenham Hotspur’s rivalry with Chelsea as well.
“But football is a funny game and fans’ opinions do change. So, if they get off to a good start, which I’m sure they will, football fans are a fickle bunch, and they always change their mind.”
Chelsea will face Fulham on 30th July as part of their summer Premier League tour in the United States.
