After a rough start to the season similar to the year before, Pochettino eventually got his team to click and finished sixth, securing European Football. Despite their success towards the end of the season, Pochettino still left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent.
This came widely as a shock to everyone as he seemed to have gotten the momentum they desperately needed, with his side losing just one of their last fifteen games as they finished five points off of fourth place, ending the season on a five game winning streak.
Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Crystal Palace managed to go their last five unbeaten, let alone winning their final five fixtures.
Pochettino had gotten the most out of Cole Palmer too with the forward having his own breakout year as he netted 22 goals and provided 11 assists in 33 games throughout the campaign, being the team's main talisman. Yet, Palmer is not even a player who was wanted initially by the Chelsea board as other deals prior had fallen through.
Pochettino was described as being "nothing but a voice" in meetings and according to The Guardian's Jacob Steinburg, the board "never fully bought into Pochettino". Despite all this, the season is probably Pochettino's biggest what if case of his managerial career. His squad was constantly hampered by injuries, especially at the start of the season, where they had struggled the most.
Pochettino also supposedly wanted more control over transfers so that he could assemble his preferred team he would feel could implement his style; not something at all unreasonable for a head coach or manager to want.
However, the board kept control over signings and got into an eventual disagreement with Pochettino, which has ultimately led to his departure.
Pochettino's departure is a head scratcher for most especially since Chelsea are in the middle of a rebuild.
The Argentine is the second project manager to be sacked following Graham Potter's dismissal prior. Pochettino took a few seasons to mold the team he wanted at Tottenham in the 2010s and was known for getting the best out of all of his players, especially in his tenure at Southampton in the 2013-2014 Premier League season. It can be argued that he could have gotten more out of this team should they have been fully fit but truly, no one will know the answer.
This departure ultimately feels like an omen of the old regime. Fans were frustrated with no trophies again yet the team had clearly been put onto an upwards trajectory with a Carabao Cup final appearance and an FA Cup semi final. However, fans are hungry for constant dynasty-like success.
Chelsea's next managerial move is going to be crucial in seeing what their true ambition is and seeing what the true direction of the Blues is under Todd Boehly, but the untimely dismissal of Pochettino may well give the position of Head Coach at Stamford Bridge a less attractive look.
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