Mauricio Pochettino is firmly on the hot seat after losing the Carabao Cup final. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Blue Bottle Jobs
Following Gary Neville’s ‘tough job’ comments, sportsbooks believe manager Mauricio Pochettino is increasingly on the hot seat at Chelsea.
The Argentine oversaw a 1-0 loss to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, a game in which his side looked entirely in charge at the end of the 90 minutes, but then dominated for the added half-hour before falling to Virgil van Dijk in the 118th minute.
Oddsmakers have Pochettino at +500 as the next manager to be sacked
With just 13 games left to prove himself in the Premier League, the predictions are that Pochettino has a +500 to be the next coach to be sacked, second only to Burnley’s Vincent Kompany.
Possibility of Pochettino leaving
Chelsea’s lavish spending spree on young talent has been well documented since Todd Buhle and Clearlake Capital took over in west London. But the results expected from a cash infusion of more than $1 billion did not meet in any way.
Sunday was a gentle reminder of the instability plaguing the Blues. After wresting control from a tired Liverpool team that had three teenagers on the pitch at the end of extra time, Pochettino made the costly decision to go for penalties (which he admitted after the match).
“Klopp’s boys are against £1bn blue bottle jobs.”
Sky Sports and former Manchester United defender Gary Neville summed up the match by saying:[It was Jurgen] “Klopp’s boys are against £1bn blue bottle jobs.”
Although Chelsea finished with an averagely young squad, it was also a much more expensive combination of players.
The loss means that Chelsea have not won a trophy since Roman Abramovich left the club. They also sit just 11th in the table, three points behind Fulham and one point behind West Ham.
European qualification was supposed to be imperative for Pochettino this season, both for the club’s reputation and to balance a red-glowing budget, but according to FanDuel Sportsbook, Chelsea are -390 to miss the top six in second place. consecutive season.
What’s in store?
Without a miracle turnaround in form, Chelsea’s last chance to qualify for Europe could come in the FA Cup. They face a fifth-round clash with their rival Leeds on Wednesday, in what could be crucial times for Chelsea’s fifth coach over the past year and a half.
A loss would almost certainly put Pochettino closer to Kompany (+300 next coach to be sacked) in contention. However, the future without the 51-year-old may not be as bright as many supporters hope.
Every coach will have a problem with this team.”
According to the Daily Telegraph Matt Law, an assistant to an anonymous senior coach who was supposedly linked to Pochettino’s success at Chelsea, commented: “Every manager would be in trouble with this team.”
Hansi Flick (+100), the former German national team coach, is the most likely candidate to take charge of Chelsea if Pochettino is dismissed. He is followed by Girona coach (third in the Spanish League) Michel Sanchez (+140), followed by club legend Jose Mourinho (+200), Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbe (+450), and Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez (+500).
Chelsea are -220 favorites to beat Leeds in the FA Cup on Wednesday. A draw to determine the potential quarter-final opponent will be held shortly before the match.
Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United are still alive in the competition and could be waiting for the Blues.
