One pundit on talkSPORT has really not held back with his assessment of one manager who could potentially replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.
With Chelsea currently in the bottom half of the Premier League table, nowhere near the Champions League spots, other managers are being linked to Stamford Bridge.
The above includes former Blues boss Jose Mourinho and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi.
Back in February, journalist Simon Phillips claimed that the 61-year-old’s representatives were trying to get him back into the Stamford Bridge dugout.
As for De Zerbi, it has been reported that Chelsea are considering hiring the Italian to replace Pochettino at the end of the season.
TalkSPORT pundit slams manager who could replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea
Mourinho is out of work right now, but De Zerbi is still in charge of Brighton, where he has done well.
De Zerbi guided the Seagulls to sixth place in the Premier League last season, securing them a spot in the 2023/24 Europa League.
The 44-year-old has been speaking about his future, and his comments did not impress Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
In response to De Zerbi’s words, MacAnthony said on talkSPORT: “He’s had more clubs than Tiger Woods. I think he needs to calm down. He’s played some lovely football; they’ve done OK. Tony Bloom won’t lose a moment’s sleep about that. He loses top players and replaces them and makes millions, and he plays poker for a living!
“So I’d imagine him sitting with this fella and saying, ‘Get back in your box, you’ve got a long-term contract, what do we need to speak about? Calm down and stop drinking your own Kool-Aid until you’ve actually done something. You’re top 10 at the moment, you’re playing some decent football, but don’t get ahead of yourself.’ And that’s the reality.
“You look at his record and whatever else. Whilst he’s done very well in the Premier League the last couple of years, he has been a bit of a nomad. He’s been everywhere, but he’s never had great success anywhere. So go and be successful, go and win something and then you can give answers like that.”
Roberto De Zerbi a risk for Chelsea
De Zerbi has impressed in the Premier League, but it just feels like he would be another gamble, similar to Graham Potter.
If Chelsea want to get back to where they once were, it probably makes sense to go down the proven and experienced route.
That does not mean the club have to go and hire Mourinho. But turning to the likes of Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann or even Thomas Tuchel seems like a safer bet.
Of course, though, there is no guarantee that Pochettino will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
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