Chelsea news: The Blues have been tipped to replace Graham Potter with Pochettino as form continues to get worse
Graham Potter remains under intense pressure at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea boss' job is under threat after the latest in a long line of poor results came against Spurs at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
Spurs is a game Chelsea can almost always bank on winning, with Tottenham having only won seven of the 61 Premier League meetings between the sides before Sunday. But goals from Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane ensured that number became eight to ramp up the pressure on Potter.
Chelsea have won just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions and two in their last 16. They sit tenth in the Premier League table and if they do not overturn a one-goal deficit against Borussia Dortmund next week, will be out of the Champions League too.
Chelsea have approached former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino to replace Graham Potter as manager. Potter is said to be just 'one or two' games away from being sacked if results do not improve.
Luis Enrique and Zinedine Zidane are both ‘in the running’ to become the new Chelsea head coach, as per the Metro.
Chelsea boss Graham Potter only arrived in September but is under massive pressure amid the Blues’ horrific run of results. The west London club – who have spent over £600m on players since the summer – have won just one game across their last 11 fixtures in all competitions.
Enrique and Zidane are now the latest names to be linked to the Chelsea job and according to Spanish outlet Sport, both men are in contention to replace Potter. Both managers have also been linked with the Brazil job, although Enrique is now believed to be ‘no longer on the shortlist’.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is reportedly monitoring Carlo Ancelotti instead.
Although he is the talk of the town, 90min write that he has already rejected an enquiry from Chelsea as to his services. This would be a blow as a man with his pedigree of managing young players, development over time and working within a wider structure is the type of person suited to Todd Boehly.
Jamie O'Hara has also admitted he thinks that Tottenham is his dream destination for a second spell, saying: "We’ll see what happens with Antonio Conte at the end of the season, but I’ve got a sneaky feeling we’re going to see Pochettino back in the Spurs dugout come next season."
Speaking to Grosvenor Sport he continued: "If Conte goes, there is only really one man for the job. And that is to bring Pochettino back this summer. There’s unfinished business.
“Spurs were playing great football with Pochettino. The season he got sacked he fell out with Daniel Levy over players, and he was absolutely right – he didn’t get backed, he didn’t have the players that he wanted. Spurs needed to reinvest in the team, like we’ve seen this season with Liverpool.
"I think he’ll want to get back there now, with the new stadium, if he gets backed more… You might see a better Tottenham with Pochettino.”
Pochettino is currently the bookies favourite to be the next manager at Stamford Bridge, coming in at 2/1 to take over from Potter. He has been the favourite ever since Chelsea lost to Southampton last week and hasn't strayed from that position.
Former Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard has explained that he thinks Potter will be the next manager to go, with Pochettino currently the favourite to take over. "It's a mess. Two wins in their last 14 Premier League games," Howard said.
"I think they go one of two ways. I think he gets sacked, which I would hate, I can't believe I'm even saying that, because you have to win ultimately to keep your job. Or the season just becomes a wash and right now that's what it feels like.
"It feels like there's no continuity in the team. They've brought a bunch of players and they have to get a bunch of players out. It just feels as, if they don't sack him, their season will just be a wash. They'll try and get things right, they'll have a mass exodus in the summer and then go again next year."
Pochettino has already been vocal about the type of job he won't take, even listing certain teams that he will never be in charge of. Before managing at Paris Saint-Germain and during his time in North London, the Argentine said: "I am so clear. I am never going to be manager of Barcelona or Arsenal because I am so identified with Tottenham and Espanyol. It’s not down to me. Always I work like I want to be here for the rest of my life. That is my responsibility, how I take my job.
"The way I work is like thinking I’m going to stay forever in the same club. It’s the best way to commit to your job. But I am realistic and today you look in England from the beginning of the season and today in six, seven months, there are many changes on the Premier League benches.
"Then it’s not only you. It’s about the results, the ideas, it’s the chairman, he can change, the chairman and say 'come on, out'."
In another interview he has also said, "Football is timing. It's the moments for it to coincide and for that marriage to happen. Sometimes it's just a matter of timing. I don't believe that trains pass just once."