Joe Cole believes Mauricio Pochettino is the ‘right fit’ for Chelsea, but fears his Tottenham connections could undermine him if he doesn’t get off to a strong start. The Argentine is on the verge of being appointed as Graham Potter’s successor and will be taking over at a club in a state of disarray, having lost five successive games under the interim management of Frank Lampard.
Pochettino is expected to be confirmed as the second permanent managerial appointment of Todd Boehly’s chaotic reign next week and will be inheriting a bloated, confused squad. Cole believes the former PSG manager’s track record, particularly at Spurs, will stand him in good stead, but his affiliation with London rivals Spurs could prove an issue with a fanbase who have been brought up on a diet of almost constant success.
The former Chelsea midfielder told BT Sport: ‘It’s a hell of a job. I think Pochettino fits but they have to be mindful of the connection with Tottenham. They’re going to have to do something smart in the way they market it. Chelsea fans also have to understand that and take a step back and think about it. Is a Zidane coming in, yes he’s a great name, his resume is unbelievable and he’s been at Real Madrid. But he doesn’t speak English. Has he taken a team over at 11th or a slightly broken club? Pochettino has done that and he’s done it with aplomb so he does fit. But Chelsea fans have to breathe a little bit, put aside he’s an ex-Tottenham manager.’