Arsenal's 5-0 thumping of Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday was a stark reminder of what this billion-pound team has become under the stewardship of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Nothing more than a mid-table Premier League side.
Bewildered, leaky and wasteful in the absence of Cole Palmer, who has undeniably been Chelsea's sole shining light this season, the Blues were made to look distinctly average by Mikel Arteta's title-chasing machine as they slipped down to ninth in the table, closer to the relegation zone than third place in terms of points.
Chelsea fans, who furiously left the Emirates en masse on Tuesday night, are fully aware that success doesn't happen overnight. They've heard countless times the process-signalling proverb of 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. But after a second season of underperformance, and a successive mid-table finish threatening, many disgruntled and crestfallen supporters have simply had enough.
The job Mauricio Pochettino was faced with upon arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer was never going to be easy. Inheriting an excessive array of expensive, young stars and taking over after three managerial exits the previous campaign, the Argentine was given a weak foundation from the outset. And there has been some progress, however small, during the manager's debut season.
So, should the Chelsea board back or sack Pochettino? Mail Sport takes a look at the arguments for and against as the Blues head for another seismic summer at Stamford Bridge.
BACK - Gradual improvements
There may still be little to celebrate at Stamford Bridge after another below-par season, but Pochettino has at least put Chelsea back on the road to success.
If the Blues were more clinical in the final third - both defensively and offensively - they would have likely beaten Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, defeated Man City in the FA Cup semi-final and be on course for a European return next season.
Liverpool's Carabao Cup triumph - which sparked Gary Neville's 'billion-pound bottle-jobs' comment of Chelsea - came about after the Blues switched off in the dying moments of extra time and squandered a catalogue of chances back in February.
Wastefulness was Chelsea's biggest vice again at Wembley last weekend, with summer arrival Nicolas Jackson the primary culprit for spurning a hatful of glorious opportunities during their late 1-0 defeat by Manchester City.
And finally, according to OPTA statistics comparing actual and expected league position when Chelsea were 11th back in March, it was discovered that the Blues should be sixth behind Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Other than relegation-threatened Burnley, Chelsea have played the youngest Premier League side this season at an average age of 24.3 against Crystal Palace back in December. Injured forward Christopher Nkunku was the oldest player at 26 during the club's 2-1 win.
Although results are everything in football, the underlying statistics and youthful potential of Chelsea's squad suggests Pochettino is just a few tweaks away from finding the right formula.
SACK - Leaky style of play
Chelsea was synonymous with strength, toughness and brawn during the Roman Abramovich days, with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte steering the Blues to multiple titles with defence-first strategies.
While it is clear that the Boehly-led regime is eager to mirror the attacking styles of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in pursuit of silverware, the importance of a solid defence has never lost its value, especially over the relentless length of a Premier league season.
Chelsea 5-0 hammering at the Emirates marked a club record for Premier League goals conceded in a single season - 57 to date - overtaking the 55 they let during the 1994-95 and 1996-97 campaigns.
Although the Blues were a disaster in attack last season, the experience of defensive-minded players like N'Golo Kante, Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta meant that Chelsea conceded more than ten goals fewer last season.
Pochettino has no doubt had injury issues in defence this term, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell continually suffering setbacks, but the significant majority of out-and-out defenders have been readily available for the Argentine and failed to produce consistently.
How much of this is down to the players and how much blame should be pointed at Pochettino is up for debate, but, by trading pragmatism in for expansive football, the manager has Chelsea conceding more goals than ever before.
BACK - Risking a player mutiny
Mail Sport's KIERAN GILL reported on Wednesday night that Chelsea will risk a dressing room mutiny if Pochettino is forced out the door this summer.
Sources close to Chelsea's players strongly insisted that the squad remains fully behind Pochettino ahead of the summer, despite many fans calling for him to be sacked.
The board, who are set to stage a summer review of Chelsea's short and long term future at the end of the season, will certainly consider the squad's attachment to Pochettino before making a decision, given that he has persistently backed his players with the media during a turbulent debut season.
There are likely a few players keen for a change at Stamford Bridge. Thiago Silva, whose wife again appeared to post a cryptic dig at Pochettino on social media after the Brazilian was benched during Arsenal's 5-0 win on Tuesday. It seems likely the 39-year-old centre-half will leave Stamford Bridge regardless of Pochettino's future.
But the majority, as Mail Sport understand, are keen for the Argentine to stay and his exit could spark a negative reaction from the players, who need confidence, belief and a consistent environment to reach their full potential. Axing Pochettino could rupture that development and see progress falter once again.
SACK - Risking a fan mutiny
With every bitter defeat, fans are growing increasingly sceptical that Pochettino is the right man to return the club to their former glories. And sometimes, a change is what's needed to get the supporters back on side.
Several fans will sternly argue that Pochettino has achieved no better than Graham Potter with an even more expensive squad, given that Chelsea have had no European football to contend with this season. And, perhaps most importantly, these supporters have grown accustomed to a ruthless hire-and-fire strategy during the Abramovich era.
Boehly and Co know that the club's lavish, scattergun approach in the transfer market has come under incredible scrutiny and will have fans questioning whether they are the right owners to kick the club on.
With droves of Chelsea fans wanting Pochettino out, the board will be wary that keeping the manager could lead to supporters becoming disillusioned by the vision and impatient in terms of the process. They will be desperate to avoid a mutiny similar to the one Manchester United have suffered during the Glazer reign.
BACK - Lack of options available
One of the strongest arguments to keeping Pochettino at the moment is the dearth of elite coaches available in world football.
Unless the Blues opt for a manager who has already walked the corridors at Stamford Bridge - such as Mourinho and Tuchel who are set to be available this summer - there really aren't too many high-profile coaches out there.
Liverpool, who at this stage have a bigger draw than Chelsea, are on the cusp of securing a deal with Feyenoord's Arne Slot in the wake of Jurgen Klopp's exit, and the 45-year-old has only won two major honours during his managerial career to date. He could do very well at Anfield, but Reds fans know he isn't arriving with the pedigree of a Klopp or Rafa Benitez.
Chelsea could target a mid-table Premier League manager such as Brentford's Thomas Frank or Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi, but that strategy was far from successful with Graham Potter when he joined from the Seagulls back in 2022.
If a serial winner at the prime of his managerial career was on the market, Chelsea would be more tempted to shake things up - sacking Pochettino and hiring a new coach to inspire the fans and kick the players into gear.
But right now, there's little to no guarantee that axing Pochettino will bring about positive change. A new appointment could take the wheels off once again and throw Chelsea back into the chaotic chopping and changing of last season.
SACK - Signings have (generally) underwhelmed
Yes, Chelsea are a young squad and need time to grow. But it's hard to speak about Pochettino's players without breaking down just how much it cost to assemble.
Palmer's £42.5million signing from Manchester City took Chelsea's transfer bill under Boehly and Clearlake Capital to £1billion and beyond and, frankly, the team as a whole is still underperforming significantly.
Unlike several managers up and down the country, Pochettino cannot claim that he hasn't been backed, with 12 new additions arriving at Stamford Bridge last summer.
Among them, Moises Caicedo has been underwhelming since his record £115m move from Brighton, Romeo Lavia joined from Southampton for £58m and has played just one match due to injury and £32m striker Nicolas Jackson has consistently squandered chances in front of goal.
While some will argue that the new additions are solely down to the club, Pochettino appeared to confirm that he played a key role in the summer transfer window, saying in December: 'It's obvious that the head coach, coach or manager is crazy to think he won't be involved in any decisions for the future in my area.
'Of course, we will share with the owners, the sporting director and I cannot conceive the idea of not being involved.'
Aside from Palmer, who has been nothing short of sensational for Chelsea this year and saved the Blues from another extremely embarrassing season, Pochettino's signings have failed to live up to expectation.
While the transfer failures do not entirely fall at his door, the manager must take a sizeable chunk of the responsibility. It's unlikely another underwhelming summer of transfers will be tolerated by the Chelsea chiefs.
Runeklnrsy
1
My mame Musa kelleh from Liberia please help me out from Liberia
Duncknpsy
2
To be honest, Poch is not just the type of man Chelsea need at this formation period. This man is not skilled enough to bring the club out of the pit, the only issue is that many people have not realized it. Pock does not have the luck that can make any team he manages do well. For exam, what did he win for the Spurs when he had a set of good players like Kane, Son and Dele Ali up from? He won nothing. He left there for PSG, where there were some of world best players such as MESSI, NEYMAR and MBAPPE. Did he win more than what the club had been winning before he got there? See, it is better to call a spade a spade, Poch is not good, skilled and lucky enough to help this Chelsea out. But it is not his fault and I don't blame it on him. I blame it all on President Putin
yobbcenuy
0
All in all we need a striker, and goal keeper
Citabdnpu
0
Pochetino should go back to the coaching class, senior team is not your mate
saedisyz
1
He must go with immediate effect and tell him to go with Badiashile, Robert Sanchez, Ogochuku, Christopher Nkuku, Wesley Fofana, Chukumeka, Madueke, Chiwell, Romeo Laviar, Lukaku
sky-bee
1
all this thing nah lie there is nothing like dressing room mutiny if u are telling us the team is young then what do they no about mutiny and by the who wont like a lazy fellow like pochetino who is very regid and can't even show flexibility in it's tactics at least someone like Jackson won't want him to be sack i know that for sure.
Podabcluy
0
Sacking coaches will not solve the problem, time is what he needs and support. Poch is a good one.
point
zepbeilmos
3
Sacking coaches will not solve the problem, time is what he needs and support. Poch is a good one.
Witemnruy
0
Chelsea need coach
Jomajoz
0
they should be serious with matches.. because they have remained with tough matches
Laubckltuz
2
poch must go! he sold the game.how can you bench Thiago silver and chalobao and start that useless Badiashile,everytime he does wrong passes from the back,poorly in decision making.
kopigao
1
No, the Chelsea first team won't get worse after Pochettino is sacked. They are already in a chaotic state, but regardless of how dire the situation is, they are still secure from relegation in the EPL.
mimbelnuz
0
we should change the formation to 3-4-1-2
Jihbkmryz
0
Atoinio conte
Rebcmpsuyz
1
we are tired of getting beaten
elkay23
1
Poch doesn't have that tactical ability to continue as a Chelsea coach, for a team to win it has to be strong, it's better to have draws, than to loose important games, he must go, player's opinions doesn't matter, the fans matters, he must go
Hikcdeiot
1
How do you Bench Thiago Silva and Chaloba am thinking pontechino is selling game
Hikcdeiot
2
Pontechino bench good players how do you expect if you are playing big team like Arsenal
ruscepsty
0
We shall play better next season, I guess, we may even climb up to fifth position but we'll never win silverware under this man Mauricio. Chelsea has been lucky with Italian coaches. We'll need one.
Mucdemnpsz
1
sack this useless coach
hiuelopsz
1
for those that are saying that there should no sack him some of them are others club fans ooo so for we cfc fans please let him go he has no any experience cfc is two much for him.
hiuelopsz
2
Look at the time he bring Tiago silver is it a trait time please my Chelsea fans please.
hiuelopsz
2
The man has no any achievement in his history so pls sack him.
hiuelopsz
1
That full need to be sack please.
Zetkopsyz
1
With poch we will never win anything ever, he has proven to psg that he is useless, at psg you can win the league without a manager. Apart from that, he has done nothing Get rid off him as soon as possible please, he is destroying our club,
Thank you, sir! You are a very intelligent football analyst. Pochetino is the problem at Chelsea. If he is sacked, there won't be any mutiny because everybody will get a fresh start. Then Mr Mickey Mouse Nicholas Jackson can sit on the bench & Enzo can be selected only if he is fit & ready to fight for the club
Pubdelmops
2
With this manager we will be relegated next season plus we will be 10 points deduction for fpl
Pubdelmops
0
Chelsea needs to get rid of the American owners . They are selling games
Pubdelmops
1
With poch we will never win anything ever, he has proven to psg that he is useless, at psg you can win the league without a manager. Apart from that, he has done nothing Get rid off him as soon as possible please, he is destroying our club,
beuekopuz
3
Let him stay and be given another opportunity. The problems of the team are not entirely down to him. Most of the senior players in the team have never really played together because of injuries. Right now Chelsea have more than 8 players on injury list. This has not allowed the team to settle down. Then again most of the players are inexperienced playing at the Premier League for the first time. Hopefully most if not all the injured players will return next season which will enable the coach to field a proper first 11
Wacabelrst
0
useless dump and deaf coach
Wacabelrst
0
let please be patient and see
to see him quiet on pitch and folding hands,
Bamcekotuy
4
Poch need to be Sacked please, we need a coach that has experience and decipline
Samad20245
2
Giving him chance is the best option, no coach will be under the circumstances and succeed, we all know how Manchester city performance is when they are without 2-3 key player , to be honest it’s not an easy task
ziebcdlnpu
1
Let him continue and sign a proper striker like Isak
Yubaeklnst
0
let please be patient and see
you are sick
raddimry
1
pochetino must go because of poor decision making. Good at training but bad at picking match day players.
Haocdotuy
0
let please be patient and see
juocknopr
1
who's pochettino it's pochettino they are paying in Chelsea
misabcdenp
1
Chelsea is the worst ever team under Pochetino
vecabcky
0
This article does not make any sense,this Chelsea team is the worst team I ever seen,everyone seeing how they behave on the field,if it comes to kick balls ⚽️,we need someone like special one to put them on other or spurs coach.
Onos
2
Then sack the dressing room alongside including all the players and promote the under 20 team to the senior team
U.S.A811406
0
Old washed out coach
Pubabeipry
3
Let him continue and should be given full control of signings
Bohcekmuy
2
Sack this coach please