Former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino has 'turned down' Chelsea's approach for him to replace Graham Potter. The Blues have won just once in their last 10 games in all competitions with fans booing the team off the pitch after their recent 1-0 defeat against bottom-of-the-table Southampton.
Potter was chosen as the man to replace Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge back in September with Todd Boehly believing he was the right person to lead the club forward in the new long-term project. The new ownership have spent over £600million on new signings since completing a £4billion takeover last year, but things are not going well on the pitch.
football.london understands Boehly and Eghbali – for now – remain supportive of Potter and his job isn't under immediate threat. Under Roman Abramovich, Potter would likely have already been sacked but the new ownership model are willing to stand by their decision despite Champions League qualification looking highly unlikely this season.
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Meanwhile, Pochettino is the new man tipped as favourite to come in if Potter is sacked. The Argentine hasn't been in charge at a club since leaving PSG in the summer and would be going in the opposite direction to Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte if he were to be appointed by Boehly at any stage.
According to 90min, the former Spurs boss has turned down an initial approach to replace Potter at Stamford Bridge. The report states that some within Chelsea's hierarchy have huge concerns about the club's form and do not share the same belief as Boehly that Potter can turn the club around.
Pochettino's history with Tottenham may have been a factor in his decision after previously stating he would not manage Arsenal or Barcelona due to his ties with Spurs and Espanyol. Speaking about his managerial philosophy when it comes to new clubs during his final months with the Lilywhites, he 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'."
It looks as though Boehly may need to look at alternative options if he was to take the decision to sack Potter after just six months. Zinedine Zidane, Brendan Rodgers and Diego Simeone are amongst the managers tipped to replace the 47-year-old at Stamford Bridge.
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