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Chelsea stars' reaction to Mauricio Pochettino appointment as Argentine gets his wish
Mauricio Pochettino to Chelsea is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard reviews Forest draw
Mauricio Pochettino will be given his wish of a clean slate to work with by Chelsea’s owners when he finally puts pen to paper on a new long-term deal. Despite calls for a quicker arrival, the former Tottenham manager will be allowed to let the dust settle on this season fully before taking over in the summer as part of the final terms agreed over the weekend.
The initial reaction to the news of his imminent appointment from within the squad is positive, with players largely pleased with the recruitment of a coach with the experience to sort out the mess of the last 11 months.
However, with a squad of 30 bloated by a spend of £600m since the new owners took over, there is a good deal of uncertainty hanging over a number of players with Pochettino’s first task to trim the numbers.
As a result, there is a sense within the dressing room that six weeks after the departure of Graham Potter, the sooner the new man is in place the better.
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Negotiations have dragged on for three weeks since Pochettino emerged at the top of the wish-list for the Chelsea hierarchy. The Argentine was keen to conclude deals for all his backroom staff before he would agree terms for himself.
But having last taken charge of a game nearly a year ago at PSG, Pochettino is willing to commit to the delayed start imminently. It will come as a big relief to Chelsea fans following a nightmare season.
The Blues are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, with interim manager Frank Lampard overseeing a horrid run of form.
Chelsea currently sit 11th in the top-flight, and still face Man City and Man Utd away before taking on top-four hopefuls Newcastle on the final day of the season.