Mauricio Pochettino made an honest reflection of his stint as Chelsea manager as he joined talkSPORT for an exclusive interview.
The Argentine boss admits his season in charge can only be deemed ‘unsuccessful’, but insists he left Chelsea in a better place than he found it in before handing the reins over to Enzo Maresca.
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Pochettino insists the Chelsea he left was in a much better position than the club he joinedCredit: Getty
Pochettino signed a two-year deal with the option for a third as he became the second permanent managerial appointment of the Todd Boehly era in May 2023.
The former Spurs boss was tasked with lifting the west London club out of the mire following a dismal 12th place finish and stabilising things behind the scenes after an unsettled season which saw four different coaches in the dugout – Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Bruno Saltor and Frank Lampard.
In many ways, that’s exactly what he did. While after a number of transfer windows of staggering spending a sixth place finish was still a disappointment, it was clear there was a vast improvement on and off the pitch.
The club was back in European football and it appeared Pochettino was building a solid base for his fresh young squad.
However, the manager and club decided to part ways just one season into his two-year agreement and Pochettino’s exit was confirmed just two days after the final game of the campaign.
Pochettino – who has since been appointed head coach of the United States national team – departed Stamford Bridge with a record of 26 wins, 11 draws and 14 defeats in 51 games in the Blues hotseat.
In comparison, Maresca’s record since his arrival as the new Chelsea manager in the summer stands at 25 wins, seven draws and 11 defeats in 43 matches – with the club currently fourth in the Premier League table.
Poch looked back on his Chelsea stint and kept the door open for a possible return to London… with SpursCredit: talkSPORT
“In the way that we arrived and moved forward, the project and the team with all the circumstances. When you start to see all the circumstances, I think it was a good season for us. It was a good year.
“I think to change the dynamic and to put the team again in a position to play in Europe and to finish in the top ten after the season before where Chelsea finished 12th.
“I think we managed to change the atmosphere. We changed it to be optimistic and to be positive. You know, the season before things were not so good.
“I think that was good, but for different reasons. In the end we split, but I think things always happen because of the best for both sides.
“But I’m happy with the experience and happy to learn a lot because I think we learned a lot also being in Chelsea.
“I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be there. We left the team in a different position than when we arrived.”
Kieron Dyer could have been a part of Arsenal’s Invincibles had he not rushed into a decision as a young footballer.
The speedy winger was the talk of English football after progressing through the ranks at Ipswich Town during the late 90s.
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Dyer moved to Newcastle in 1999, but things could have been very differentCredit: Getty Images – Getty
After failing to win promotion in the 1998/99 campaign, interest was building in Dyer who told talkSPORT there were other offers on the table when he completed a £6.5million move to Newcastle.
Speaking to Drive, Dyer explained a move away from his boyhood club was inevitable having come so close to the Premier League in a team with highly-rated players.
He said: “We had Richard Wright, myself, James Scowcroft and David Johnson – really good young players so the director’s box was full of scouts and it was always in the paper that we were probably going to be leaving that summer, so it was kind of expected.
“I remember coming back from pre-season and [manager] George Burley pulls me into the office and says, ‘We haven’t received any offers that we want to accept so if you start the season with us you have to get your head down’. I said, ‘Yeah, of course.’
“Then we finished training and someone said ‘the gaffer wants to see you in his office’ and I go there and he says, ‘We’ve just accepted an offer for six and a half million, so you need to go now.’
“I had to drive to Stansted airport and meet my agent before flying to Newcastle.
“But if I’d have been a bit more wise I probably wouldn’t have ended up in Newcastle.
“At the time, Arsenal wanted me with Arsene Wenger, I spoke to David O’Leary and Leeds on the phone, I spoke to Harry Redknapp who was manager of West Ham at the time.”
Signed by Ruud Gullit in 1999, Dyer ended up spending eight years at St James’ Park between 1997 and 2007 where he made 250 appearances for the club.
While clearly enjoying his time in the north east, the midfielder failed to win a single piece of silverware, something that can’t be said for the Gunners in that period.
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Dyer made 250 appearances for Newcastle, but failed to win a trophyCredit: Getty
Arsenal enjoyed a true period of dominance under Wenger in those years, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and as many Community Shields.
It was also an era that goes down in football history, with Wenger’s side being dubbed ‘The Invincibles’ due to going the entire 2003/2004 Premier League season without losing a game.
While he got to play with record scorer Alan Shearer among others at Newcastle, at Arsenal he could lined up alongside Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires to name a few.
Reflecting on the other interested clubs, he said: “If I’d have known what I know now, I’d have said, ‘I want to wait a bit’ and seen if Arsenal or Leeds would have increased their bid because I had the chance to be a part of the Invincibles squad.”
Laughing at his youthful thinking, he added: “Because you’re so young and naive – plus my agent told me what Newcastle were offering – it was like, ‘Ooff we go’, sort of thing.
“You don’t really know because you have no experience.”
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Dyer scored 36 goals for Newcastle in all competitions before leaving in 2007Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Dyer had, at times, a strained relationship with Newcastle, but showed plenty of times why the club paid so much money for one of the most talented young players in the country.
He joined West Ham in 2007 and retired from playing in 2013 after short spells at QPR and Middlesbrough in addition to a stint back at Ipswich.
While Arsenal haven’t won a league title since 2004, they are currently competing for the top-flight for a third consecutive season.
Though they look set to miss out once again with leaders Liverpool sit points clear, with Arne Slot’s men also having a game in hand.
As for Newcastle, they are in contention to secure Champions League football for the second time in three years with the Toon sitting in sixth spot – two points off the top four.
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Dyche leaves Everton with the club one point above the Premier League relegation zone in 16th.
New owners, The Friedkin Group, will oversee a move to their new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock this summer.
Everton fan Steve is amongst those supporters concerned by the timing of Dyche’s exit, though, during an uncertain period for the club.
He told talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein on Drive: “I’m shaking. I’m absolutely shaking.
“I’m a regular caller to your programme, and I’ve been saying for a long time, Andy, why couldn’t we just agree with all the stick he’s been getting? I agree with that.
“But again, it’s the timing. These Friedkins, right? We’re going in the right direction. The new stadium’s around the corner.
“Dyche came in when we had the sinking ship, and all that man’s done is his best. It’s not great on the eye, but we knew we had a three to four years when he came in of how it was going to be.
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Dyche’s exit left Toffees fan Steve distraughtCredit: Getty
“What with the points deduction, he’s been getting rid of our better players. Every season, your Alex Iwobi’s, your Richarlison’s.
“He hasn’t been able to sign any decent players. In my view, he’s a very, very good manager.
“These Friedkins, right? Whoever they’ve got in mind, there’s only one person that’s going to… I’ve had to get my head around this in five seconds. I’m shaking, Andy. I am shaking.
“I’m 62 years of age. I live and die for Everton Football Club. I’ve had it with the Evertonians in the stands week in, week out. I’m talking to them saying, ‘Yes, Dyche, he does have to go, but it’s all about the timing’.
“If this is them, Andy, making this decision now, they’ve only got to go and get one person that will hopefully get us over the line, and that’s David Moyes. If they bring anyone else in, we’re gone.”
Former boss David Moyes is interested in a return to Goodison Park, talkSPORT understands, having left West Ham in the summer.
An emotional Steve continued: “I’ve asked this a million times for three years.
Darren Bent and Andy Goldstein react to news of Sean Dyche sacked as Everton manager
“That man was going to carry us to Bramley Moore Dock, with a very, very poor squad of players, right?
“Pep Guardiola coming in tomorrow is not going to guarantee us that we’re going to stay up. You’re looking at Sean Dyche as that man.
“He’s never made excuses. I begged for him and tried to get Frank Lampard out to get him into our club because he plays off a straight bat.
“That man will look at you square in the eye and he’ll hang you on the peg rightly or wrongly.
“That’s the manager we need at this moment in time with the squad and what we can do with all the red tape that’s happening with our club.
“We get the ground, we’re going in the right direction. We get the owners. We think they’re 100 per cent behind Everton, and you understand football, we’re going in the right direction.
“Sean Dyche on the park, not being able to buy players, awful on the eye. Just get us over the line. Sean, get us to Bramley Moore Dock, please. You can do it. Who’s going to get us to Bramley Moore Dock?
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David Moyes – 1/2 Jose Mourinho – 4/1 Paulo Fonseca – 4/1 Gareth Southgate – 8/1 Lee Carsley – 10/1 See the full market at talkSPORT BET Odds subject to change
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Everton are precariously close to the relegation zone
“There’s thousands of Evertonians that come on your show and go on social media, ‘it’s awful on the eye, it’s this and it’s that’.
“We wanted to be the best of a bad bunch, Andy. That’s all we wanted to be.
“I am shaken and I am sick and I am worried sick that our club, our club now, and all these Evertonians and ex-pundits and ex-players of Everton Football Club think what Dyche was doing wasn’t good enough.
“We’ve got a very, very, very poor team. And I tell you what, you’ve got to be careful what you wish for.
“You be careful what you wish for, because if there is a man out there better than Sean Dyche, I want to see him, Andy. I want to see him, that carries us to Bramley Moor Dock and see what you’re like when we’re in the championship.
“All you Dyche haters, you see what we’re like. That man knew our club. He knew every nook and cranny. He knew what he was up against day in, day out.
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Steve has called for Moyes to return to the clubCredit: Getty
“He knew them players. He knew what they were doing day in, day out. What’s the next manager going to do? How long is it going to take him to get them where we’re going to be at, Andy?
“It’s a worry. It’s the biggest decision made in the history of Everton Football Club, what them Friedkins have done. And I hope they’re right.
“And I’ll tell you now, I’ll stick my neck out. I think they’ve got it wrong, Andy. I think our club’s bang in big trouble now. Bang in big trouble.
“And if they think by getting rid of Dyche, that’s the answer, I think they’re wrong, Andy. I honestly do.”
Steve’s wish to see Moyes return may be coming true as talkSPORT understands the Scot is a leading contender for the job.
Former AC Milan boss Paulo Fonseca is also keen on the job while there are admirers for Gareth Southgate in the Everton hierarchy but it’s understood the ex-England boss has reservations about taking a job mid-season.
Dyche guided Everton to safety in each of the last two seasons after taking charge in January 2023.
The Toffees remain one of six clubs yet to be relegated from the Premier League alongside Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham.
However, Dyche’s exit comes with the club once again at risk of dropping out of the top flight for the first time since 1954.
Following the cup clash with Peterborough, Everton are next in league action at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
However, it was the inclusion of Beckham, who played for the Red Devils for 11 years, which perplexed Bent.
The former striker could not believe the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney had been omitted.
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Reacting to Goldstein’s quartet, he asked: “So no Scholesy? No Ryan Giggs? ‘It’s Becks.’ That’s not an answer. No, Where’s Paul Scholes?”
As his co-host attempted to justify his decision, Bent continued: “Honestly. ‘He’s Becks’, mate. That’s not an answer. ‘He’s Becks’. Over Wazza [Wayne Rooney].”
He even added: “You’re… honestly. Becks would even put Wazza on there.”
This prompted Goldstein to joke: “Hey, listen. You know I want to get an invite to Becks’ 50th birthday party.”
Bent then concluded: “No, but honestly, come on. No Wazza.
“He is all-time record goal scorer at your club and he’s not on Mount Rushmore.”
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David Beckham made 391 appearances and won 14 trophies with the Red DevilsCredit: Getty
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Bent could not believe both Rooney and Scholes had missed out
Rooney scored 253 goals for the Red Devils to surpass Sir Bobby Charlton as the club’s record goal scorer.
Meanwhile, Beckham was part of the Class of ’92 alongside Giggs, coming through the academy and spending 12 years at Old Trafford.
During that time, he made 391 appearances for the club, scoring 85 goals and providing 121 assists.
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The former midfielder also won 14 trophies with United, including the Champions League and six Premier League titles.
Arsenal fan Bent then named his Gunners Mount Rushmore, selecting legendary manager Arsene Wenger, record goalscorer Thierry Henry and the man who previously held the club record, Ian Wright.
Goldstein queried whether legendary captains Patrick Vieira and Tony Adams were overlooked, but it didn’t cause the same ruckus as the pick of Beckham in the Man United Mount Rushmore.
