Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea fate was sealed after one 'innocuous' question opened up major rift

Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea fate was reportedly sealed after one ‘innocuous’ question.

Despite recording five straight wins to end the 23/24 Premier League campaign and securing European football for next season, it was announced on Tuesday that Pochettino had left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent.

As a result, Chelsea are now searching for another new boss, who will become the third permanent manager since American businessman Todd Boehly took over the club from Roman Abramovich two years ago.

The likes of Roberto De Zerbi, Ruben Amorim, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel have all been linked with the vacancy.

On the back of Pochettino’s exit, it was claimed that one innocuous question earlier in the season may have opened up a major rift behind the scenes.

As reported by The Telegraph, Pochettino was asked about the importance of having a set-piece coach within the set-up back in February.

The Argentine replied: “We are a coaching staff in charge of everything. Football belongs to the players. Not to the specialists.”

However, Pochettino’s response was the complete opposite of what the hierarchy believed.

Getty

The report stated: “That was at odds with the structure being built by Chelsea’s owners and sporting directors, who have made it abundantly clear they believe football belongs to the players and the specialists.

“Some of those around Pochettino claimed that Chelsea’s difficulties at defending from set-pieces could be easily explained by a relative lack of height within the squad, which would point the finger at those who assembled it.”

To add to Pochettino’s woes, Chelsea lost the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool after Virgil van Dijk headed in from a corner deep into extra time.

After the final, it was reported that Pochettino and his bosses held a meeting and then Chelsea ‘were in the process of not only appointing a new set-piece specialist, but were setting up an entire department dedicated to corners and free-kicks’.

Ahead of the new season, it was reported that Chelsea have reached an agreement with Brentford for set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva to move to Stamford Bridge.