It appears that Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Chelsea might be limited, despite full support from the owners.
Following their 2-0 loss to Everton on December 10, Chelsea had a promising run of five wins out of six games across all competitions. However, their recent defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Middlesbrough halted that positive streak.
During their visit to Riverside Stadium, Chelsea struggled in the first half against Boro and encountered difficulties breaking down the opposition’s defense in the second half.
This match mirrored a recurring pattern in Chelsea’s performances this season: underwhelming first halves where they were outplayed, followed by challenging second halves against teams employing deep defensive tactics.
Despite dominating possession with 72%, Chelsea managed only five shots on target out of eighteen attempts against Middlesbrough. Facing a deep defensive line, they struggled to create significant chances in the second half.
Pochettino has encountered similar challenges against deep-lying defenses during his time at PSG, and this tactical issue has persisted at Chelsea, resulting in a lack of opportunities against teams sitting back.
Although this issue predates Pochettino’s tenure, the responsibility falls on him as the current focal point of criticism.
While a goal by Cole Palmer could have altered the outcome, Chelsea’s performance against mid-table Championship opposition was ultimately subpar.
There’s uncertainty about Pochettino’s future; he might oversee the return fixture against Boro on January 23, but failing to progress to the Carabao Cup final could jeopardize his position.
Since Todd Boehly took ownership in 2022, significant changes have occurred at Chelsea. Dismissed manager Luciano Grosso might not be the solution, but Pochettino’s underperformance is evident.
Despite a considerable financial investment in their starting lineup against Middlesbrough, which totaled €464.2 million (excluding free transfers), Chelsea struggled, raising doubts about Pochettino’s suitability.
The Blues have won only 13 games this season across all competitions, with four wins against lower-tier opponents and nine losses.
Despite the financial investment, Chelsea’s disappointing season puts the blame on Pochettino, although the lack of readily available top managers may extend his tenure temporarily, though fans are becoming increasingly impatient.
