“At least ten games” – Chelsea told what to do with major manager question for next season | OneFootball

Ben Jacobs’ exclusive for Simon Phillip’s Substack has some very interesting updates on the future of Mauricio Pochettino beyond this season.

Jacobs is very much of the opinion that Pochettino will be staying, and he also weighed in on the rumours that the coach is being judged on whether he can qualify for the Europa League for next season. That now looks very possible, as the Blues round out the season in good form and with favourite fixtures, while the teams above us falter. But whether we make it or not shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.

“I don’t personally think it should just be ‘Europa League or bust’. If Chelsea end the season showing Champions League form, it would in my view be unwise not to give Pochettino pre-season and at least ten games next season to continue that momentum,” Jacobs commented.

The Europa League trophy in all its glory.

Something to aim for

We’re inclined to agree. Football has so much randomness in it, from moment to moment and game to game, adding up to a whole season. From refereeing mistakes to injuries, no manager can be 100% accountable for every last result, either good or bad.

More important that exactly where we finish (which will be affected by the performances of other teams and other factors beyond Pochettino’s control) is that we are making steady progress and looking better than the start of the season. It’s been a long, slow and extremely rocky road to get there, but we may be reaching that point at last.

To chuck it all away for an arbitrary target set a year ago would seem short sighted, in much the same way that keeping a caretaker manager just because they fluked a string of good results is foolish in the other direction.