By Davidson Abraham
LONDON (Sundiata Post) – Before delving into the shock shared by the Chelsea squad, it’s important to highlight a statistic that drew considerable attention on Wednesday.
Forwarded by one to Mail Sport, it was a screenshot of a viral tweet by journalist Will Jeanes that read: ‘The next Chelsea manager will be the club’s 24th (including caretakers) from 2000 onwards – which is more than the number of Popes there have been since 1722.’
Mauricio Pochettino’s successor will be the sixth head coach—and fourth permanent one—under the current owners since they assumed control from Roman Abramovich in May 2022, nearly two years ago. The agent who shared this statistic noted that it was almost laughable, highlighting the incredulity of the situation.
No goodbyes were exchanged after Sunday’s season finale. Pochettino’s parting words were, ‘Have a good summer,’ leading players to believe he would be with them on their pre-season tour of the United States.
The players learned of the impending change via social media rumors before the official announcement at 7:18 pm on Tuesday.
This prompted a flurry of frantic WhatsApp messages between the players and their agents as they confirmed the news. One source described the reaction as a ‘what have they done’ vibe, while another mentioned words like ‘s***’ and ‘fan’ to convey the shock and dismay from their clients, highlighting Pochettino’s popularity despite his ‘tactically primitive’ training sessions.
Following a manager’s departure, the squad typically expects clarity when they return to the training ground. However, most of Chelsea’s players left the country for their summer breaks after the Bournemouth victory. As of Wednesday evening, there was surprise among the players that they hadn’t heard from sporting directors Paul Winstanley or Laurence Stewart, or the owners, particularly Behdad Eghbali.
The squad is eager to understand the plan moving forward and why this decision was made after a season where they felt significant progress had been achieved.
Chelsea finished the season with only one defeat in 15 Premier League matches, securing sixth place.
Pochettino’s man-management skills earned him praise from his young squad. Players often use the start of summer to disconnect from social media, but for Pochettino, they broke this rule. They posted public messages of support, with almost all sharing photos with Pochettino. Nicolas Jackson posted facepalm emojis, saying, ‘Love you coach.
Wish we could stay together more. But may God continue to bless you and your family. Thanks for the advice and support. You’re a true lion and fighter.’ Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, and others echoed similar sentiments, expressing their gratitude and sorrow.
Even John Terry, now an academy coach, weighed in, expressing his disappointment at Pochettino’s departure and hoping no player transfers would occur until a new manager is appointed. Despite being the Premier League’s youngest team, Chelsea’s players understand the nature of football management.
They know managers come and go, and their contracts are with the club, not the manager. Yet, the uncertainty following Tuesday night’s announcement has left them unsettled. The next manager will need to restore the optimism that has turned into pessimism.
The race to find Pochettino’s successor is open, with candidates like Kieran McKenna, Sebastian Hoeness, Michel, Enzo Maresca, and Thomas Frank in the mix. Thomas Tuchel, Hansi Flick, Antonio Conte, and Jose Mourinho are notably absent from Chelsea’s list. The club’s silence on social media following the announcement was broken with an unrelated post, highlighting the disconnect between the club’s management and its players’ feelings.
Pochettino’s strong bond with his players explains the shock and sadness at his exit, leaving Chelsea once again at a crossroads
