TalkSPORT pundit Darren Bent hasn’t held back when reacting to the speculation he’s hearing in the papers about Chelsea and their managerial situation.
Currently, Mauricio Pochettino is halfway into a two-year deal as head coach at Stamford Bridge. Despite inconsistent results in the season that’s just finished, the Blues pulled it together to end up finishing sixth in the Premier League table and qualifying for Europe.
However, there’s rumours about the Argentine’s future. The Evening Standard reports that Chelsea’s hierarchy will soon sit down with Pochettino for a scheduled end-of-season review, which will include making a decision on his future.
While the uncertainty around Pochettino confuses the fanbase, there’s talk elsewhere about possible managerial targets to replace him. For example, The Guardian claims that Chelsea have already spoken to representatives of Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.
Darren Bent calls Chelsea ’embarrassing’
Darren Bent is left bewildered by speculation that Chelsea are looking at other coaches as possible replacements for Pochettino.
He’s convinced that he’s done enough this campaign to earn another year in the Blues dugout.
When asked about Chelsea links to McKenna, Bent told talkSPORT (4:15pm, 20 May): “That’s embarrassing. Pochettino has had his critics this season, right, and he finally gets this Chelsea squad, which has been put together, so many players, so much different change, he finally gets them to a point where it starts to look like my team and they get rid of him. No, you have got to give him next season. You cannot let him do that work.
“Like the way they ended the season was incredible. I think they were one of the in-form sides, up there with Arsenal and Manchester City, the last five to 10 games. You can’t get rid of him now. He is now getting a tune out of some of these players. [Moises] Caicedo looks brilliant, scored a great goal. Stick with him.”
Getting rid of Mauricio Pochettino feels wrong
It’s not a criticism of Ipswich’s McKenna, who’s done a stellar job gaining back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League in the last two years. But bringing him in to replace Pochettino feels wrong and an unnecessary gamble.
Hopefully, the imminent discussion between Chelsea and Pochettino is a successful one, with all parties agreeing to continue into next season.
A run of eight victories in Chelsea’s last 12 games of the league season highlights that Pochettino’s method is starting to effect this young group. He deserves the start of next campaign to continue his work, which is heading in an upwards trajectory.