This might be Mauricio Pochettino's debut season at Chelsea but the future of the Argentine manager is already coming under question.
According to the Daily Mail, Pochettino's future at Stamford Bridge is no longer certain in the wake of their Carabao Cup final defeat, with qualification for European football likely to be a huge factor in whether the 51-year-old continues past this campaign.
The former Tottenham boss joined the London giants on a mere two-year contract with the option for an additional year. This makes it easier for Todd Boehly and Co. to part ways with the South American, should they choose to do so.
The club opted against an immediate response to Sunday's embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final, with the Blues failing to overcome an injury-ravaged side that ended the game with several inexperienced academy players. Regardless, the pressure is mounting on Pochettino.
While Pochettino is unlikely to get sacked before the end of the season, the Daily Mail reports that the London giants have already begun looking at potential replacements. One candidate high up their wishlist is Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese boss, who led the Lions to the 2020/21 Primeira Liga title, is highly regarded and has been linked to the Liverpool job — albeit loosely. Amorim has his Sporting CP side only two points adrift of current leaders Benfica and could be sought after if he leaves Lisbon this summer.
One key factor will be European football. Chelsea's owners wish to see the club participating in continental competitions but their position in the table makes this unlikely. The Carabao Cup offered one route but that door is shut, leaving the FA Cup as the only way.
The two-time UEFA Champions League winners will automatically qualify for the UEFA Europa League if they win the FA Cup. However, the Blues must first win their fifth-round fixture against bitter rivals Leeds. Failure to do that would only make things worse for Pochettino.
