Mauricio Pochettino has not been provided definitive direction over his future at Chelsea beyond this season, but the pressure is building on the Argentine.
Tuesday night’s 5-0 loss at the Emirates arrived as the latest blow to Pochettino’s hopes of keeping his job into next season following a tough opening campaign at the club.
Mail Sport understands the club are yet to make a final decision on whether the former Spurs boss will enter the second year of his contract, though there is an underlying sense that a parting of the ways will be seriously considered.
Internally, there have been indications the club are prepared to continue with Pochettino despite the troubles that have engulfed their season.
For instance, Pochettino and his staff have been fully involved in the club’s planning for pre-season, including the arrangement of the necessary medical checks that take place at the start of each summer.
But at the same time, there is an acknowledgement from within the team’s technical department that a largely disappointing season leaves them at risk of the sack.
Whether Chelsea qualify for Europe will serve as a contributing factor as the owners decide Pochettino’s future.
It was always the club’s intention to survey the season as a whole and with just six games left to play, it is looking increasingly likely that Chelsea will stick to that plan.
But nevertheless, there is significant uncertainty over Pochettino’s future heading into the final weeks of the season.
There will be a number of managerial options for the club’s American owners to consider should they move on from Pochettino.
They have a long-term admiration for Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim, who is open to a move to the Premier League.
The future of Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton is also unclear amid a feeling he is open to leaving the Amex Stadium.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
