Why time is running out for Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea،
Another day, another huge disappointment as Chelsea crashed out 4-2 at home to Wolves on Sunday. After taking over last summer, manager Mauricio Pochettino's honeymoon at Stamford Bridge is now over for good. Considered an elite manager since taking Tottenham Hotspur to the Champions League final in 2019, what happened to 'Poch'?
Chelsea was not going to be an easy task amid the chaos that has gripped the club since the end of the golden era under former owner Roman Abramovich, who brought home 19 trophies in 19 years, including two triumphs in the Champions League.
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A transitional settlement period was always going to be given to Pochettino after co-owner Todd Boehly hired him to replace Graham Potter, who himself only lasted eight months after filling the position left vacant by Tuchel's dismissal . But now it's February – the height of the season – and there are few signs of any real cohesion, direction, identity, fight or style within Pochettino's team.
They were booed on Sunday and a fan base from a generation of success is clearly unhappy. Speaking after Wolves' defeat, Pochettino apologized to fans and said “at the moment we don't fit the history of the club. We have to accept it and be critical, but we can't give up”.
Before the home humiliation inflicted by Gary O'Neil's Wolves side, the recent 4-1 defeat at Liverpool was a shocking reminder of the huge gap between this Chelsea side and the Premier's elite sides League.
And all this after a flurry of random transfers when the recruitment team spent €1 billion and forgot to buy an established star striker. Chelsea needed a new Didier Drogba. Instead, they got Nicolas Jackson, arriving with only promise after a few goals for Villarreal in La Liga. It didn't seem to be the answer. Christopher Nkunku came with a bigger reputation from RB Leipzig but was injured most of the time at Bridge.
It seems you don't get much for a billion euros these days, as World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez and Moisés Caicedo just don't look like the midfield maestros we've seen respectively for Argentina and Brighton, and both cost more than £100 million.
And how much longer will Pochettino be able to count on Thiago Silva, 39, in central defense? He has had a stylish and brilliant career, but it is difficult to remain effective in the Premier League with aging legs.
As for the other signings, suffice it to say that quantity far outweighed quality. Chelsea, in 11th place, have no hope of making the top four, so Wednesday's FA Cup replay at Aston Villa (stream LIVE on ESPN+) is now huge for Pochettino. Winning this trophy would allow them to secure a European place, but given their form, it is difficult to predict a victory at Villa Park.
The only crumb of consolation is that Chelsea, helped by a string of good draws at home, reached the Carabao Cup final. But this final will be against Liverpool, and Pochettino will need to get a much better tune-up from his team than at Anfield. They must demonstrate a certain endurance.
The wait continues for Chelsea's misfits to click and match the impact of their top signing – Cole Palmer – who signed for £40 million and has scored 10 goals since leaving Manchester City.
Pochettino, a warm and friendly man with a deservedly great reputation, likes to have a bowl of lemons on his desk because he believes they give off positive energy. A bowl? Right now he needs a truck.
Unless there are signs of marked improvement soon – or a Wembley triumph over Liverpool – Pochettino will find those lemons may be sour.
