Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has warned Chelsea that sacking Mauricio Pochettino after just one season would be ‘a crime’. Ferdinand, speaking on TNT Sports, believes that Pochettino needs to be given more time to get the best out of his young squad, which he described as having ‘phenomenal’ talent.
‘I think it will be a crime, really [if Pochettino was sacked], if they have sort of invested and recruited all of these young talents,’ Ferdinand said. ‘The potential they have under the roof is phenomenal. They’ve got a fantastic academy that’s working really well and then to have brought in Mauricio and just give him one season, to integrate all of that at the same time and to still get results at the same time, to expect that he’s almost expecting miracles, I think he [Boehly] needs to give him time.’
Chelsea legend Joe Cole echoed Ferdinand’s sentiments, insisting that it is ‘crucial’ the Blues don’t make a change they might regret in the future.
‘It’s a dangerous game in the current climate, especially a club like Chelsea, where, where the manager, the turnover of management has always been quick,’ Cole said. ‘It’s always been times when you thought managers would be safe, a game was lost, and then there’s been a changeover. So I think it’s crucial that the club back him.’
Cole also stressed the importance of Chelsea giving Pochettino the keys in the transfer market, both to bring in players he wants and to get rid of those he doesn’t.
‘I think they do those two things. I think they’ll be fine. Too many times in football, we see so many managers given jobs. It’s not working on the pitch. ‘I’d like to see the people signing the players and putting their names a little bit of accountability there, you know, because it’s always Mauricio every press conference, win, lose or draw at Chelsea, he talks about how young the squad is and how much time he needs,’ he said.
Pochettino signed a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge after joining the club during the summer and marked his return to the Premier League having previously managed Tottenham. The 52-year-old has been heavily backed in the transfer market but has seen his youthful squad struggle for consistency and Chelsea are now set for another trophyless season.
New signings have so far struggled to settle and spending most of the season in midtable has fuelled talk of owner Todd Boehly sanctioning another managerial change. Pochettino himself has highlighted how he needs time to get the best out of Chelsea’s young players.
