The Chelsea team reportedly discovered Mauricio Pochettino’s departure through their WhatsApp group. The general sentiment of the messages that flooded in following the news of their manager’s exit was said to be one of ‘sadness’.
Pochettino and the Chelsea board mutually agreed to part ways on Tuesday. A disagreement over the club’s structure is thought to be the main reason behind the Argentine’s decision to leave.
The news of Pochettino’s exit came out of the blue on Tuesday evening, with Chelsea confirming shortly after 7pm. The Evening Standard reports that most of the players were oblivious to the situation until they started exchanging messages on their WhatsApp group.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino leaves Chelsea after club’s end-of-season review
It’s suggested that the 52 year old was generally well-liked by the squad, even though some had differing views on his approach. It’s understood that the stars felt progress was being made under the head coach after a challenging start to the season.
Chelsea managed to win their last five matches to secure sixth place in the Premier League. This marked a significant turnaround considering the team’s earlier inconsistent performance, reports the Express.
Pochettino even faced demands for his dismissal after the Blues lost to a young Liverpool side in the Carabao Cup final in February.
Cole Palmer emerged as a pivotal figure in Chelsea’s revival, finishing the season as the club’s top scorer with a staggering 25 goals across all competitions. The forward’s exceptional performance under Pochettino’s guidance secured him a spot in England’s provisional squad for Euro 2024, and he took to Instagram to express his gratitude towards his ex-skipper.
“Gaffer, thank you for everything you have done for me [and] making my dreams come true. All the best,” penned Palmer on Instagram.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Further tributes were shared by other Chelsea stars who posted personal salutations alongside photos with Pochettino. Noni Madueke simply said, “Thank you.”
Marc Cucurella known for his transformative move to an inverted full-back role towards the final stages of the season penned: “Thank you for everything mister. Good luck in the future.”
Meanwhile, Mykhaylo Mudryk kept it straightforward, stating: “Thank you for everything.”
The news surfaced reporting that Pochettino had discussions with Chelsea’s hierarchy throughout Monday and Tuesday, which concluded with a joint decision to separate ways. Following this, Pochettino expressed his gratitude in an official statement from the club.
“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.”