Mauricio Pochettino's arrival to Stamford Bridge sparked hope among fans, but the team's start of the season has been far from satisfying after seven games.
The team's woes in front of goal have continued, their defense has conceded key goals in tough moments of all games, and to make things worse, Pochettino's tactics have been harshly questioned by both fans and experts. Given that owner Todd Boehly is not the most patient boss in the Premier League, the rumor mill has already started its rounds, and sources close to the team have named a potential replacement for Pochettino, who happened to be spotted at Stamford Bridge on Sunday's 1-0 loss to Aston Villa.
The man in question is none other than Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked by Wolverhampton just days before the start of this season. The Spanish coach has reportedly turned down offers from La Liga and Ligue 1 to continue his career in England, and while his presence in Chelsea's last game may only be a coincidence, being a coach with EPL experience will always give him some credit if a top-tier club is in trouble.
Following the game between Chelsea and Aston Villa, coach Pochettino admitted that his current bosses are not happy with how the team has played.
"Of course, they're disappointed. They arrived at the club and were so excited to build this project and, of course, they feel disappointed but they need to support the plan," Pochettino stated.
It is yet to be revealed if Chelsea offered a ticket to Lopetegui or if the coach paid for it himself, but his presence has already started to add pressure to Pochettino's fate. Will we see the former Sevilla coach back in the Premier League? We will have to wait and see.