Mauricio Pochettino has opened up on his surprise Chelsea exit.
The Argentine manager has exited Stamford Bridge after just one season with the West London club. During his tenure, the Blues secured a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, ensuring their participation in European football next season.
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Under Pochettino’s leadership, Chelsea also reached the finals of both the League Cup and the FA Cup, although they were defeated in both. Pochettino has now addressed his departure for the first time in a statement released on the club’s website.
“Thank you to the Chelsea ownership group and Sporting Directors for the opportunity to be part of this football club’s history. The Club is now well positioned to keep moving forward in the Premier League and Europe in the years to come.,” he said.
The London club also confirmed that members of Pochettino’s coaching staff Jesus Perez, Miguel d’Agostino, Toni Jimenez and Sebastiano Pochettino have also left.
Sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: “On behalf of everyone at Chelsea, we would like to express our gratitude to Mauricio for his service this season.
“He will be welcome back to Stamford Bridge any time and we wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
Speaking after the final day win over Bournemouth about his future, the former Tottenham manager said: “I don’t know if that is going to happen or not.
“I don’t have any idea about this. All I can tell you is on Friday night, Todd [Boehly] invited me for a dinner and it was a very nice dinner together. But I don’t know about the rumours about the review.
“My staff tomorrow are flying for their holidays. I am going to stay in London for a few more days. I am always open. My phone is going to be on.”
On the Boehly dinner, he added: “I am not going to explain. It is only for you to know that I was with him. I’m not going to talk about this. If I invite you along, and you and me have dinner, it’s not for bad things. I don’t believe that.”
Pochettino was in charge for 51 Chelsea matches last campaign, winning 26 of them and totting up a 50.90 per cent win ratio.
