According to sources at 90 min, former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has turned down an approach from Chelsea, who may be looking to replace their current boss Graham Potter after a string of poor results.
Potter took over at Chelsea in September, leaving behind a great body of work at Brighton and Hove Albion to replace Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge. However, things have not quite gone to plan for the promising young manager since taking over the Blues.
Chelsea currently find themselves in tenth place in the Premier League table and, after losing to bottom of the table Southampton at the weekend, Potter’s side are now 11 points adrift of fourth placed Spurs. At this stage of the season, any hope of Champions League qualification appears to be over.
Despite spending big in the January transfer window, Chelsea now face the prospect of coming up empty handed this season. It’s safe to say fans are losing patience with Potter, but it is thought owner Todd Boehly is keen to give the manager time.
Nevertheless, the latest from 90 min suggests Chelsea have been making enquiries as a contingency plan, with former Spurs manager Pochettino on their radar. The 50-year-old has been touted for a return to Tottenham if Antonio Conte leaves in the summer (Daily Mail).
And the chances of that return just became a little more likely, after it has been revealed Pochettino has rejected Chelsea’s approach. The report claims the Argentine was an “option being considered by Chelsea at the highest levels,” but Pochettino himself is apparently “not ready to take up the challenge” there.
It is believed Pochettino is keen to return to management but is carefully considering his options, and the project at Chelsea is “not ticking the boxes” at this time.
Pochettino revealed in November that he was open to a Premier League return having spoken highly of the league’s competitive nature in an interview.
He told talkSPORT :’I miss the Premier League. Why not [return], we are open! I am really open. I love England and I am living between London and Barcelona, but more in London.
‘My house, my home… I love to be in England. The Premier League is the best league in the world. It’s so competitive.’
During his five years at Tottenham, he led them to their second-ever involment in the Champions League after just two seasons. In 2019, he took them to their first-ever final in the competition – which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
Spurs Web Opinion
Everything just points to Pochettino returning to Spurs, doesn’t it? You’d think the Chelsea project would be something he would fancy otherwise, but it’s very likely he is holding out until the summer when he has a better idea as to whether the Tottenham job is available or not.
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