Gary Neville believes Mauricio Pochettino is the man to put an end to Chelsea’s struggle for form

Gary Neville believes that Chelsea will thrive under Mauricio Pochettino next season if he is given the job and has backed the Argentine to ‘bring the club together’ after an enormously disappointing first season under Todd Boehly’s ownership.  

Pochettino is widely expected to be appointed as Chelsea’s next permanent manager after he reportedly ‘reached a verbal agreement’ with the club earlier in the week. 

The 51-year-old could be appointed by the end of the weekend, with senior members of Chelsea’s hierarchy set to meet in Los Angeles to make a final decision on the matter.  

Former Manchester United full-back-turned pundit, Neville, believes that Chelsea could really surprise us’ next season if the ex-Tottenham manager is chosen to take over. 

Neville also believes that Chelsea’s current crop of players fit perfectly with Pochettino’s style of management and ‘will respect him enormously.’

Gary Neville believes that Mauricio Pochettino will lead Chelsea to success next season 

The ex-Tottenham manager is set to be confirmed as Chelsea’s next permanent appointment

Chelsea have struggled in the Premier League despite spending well over £600m this season

Discussing Chelsea’s potential next manager on The Overlap, Neville stated: ‘I think he (Pochettino) is a really talented coach. 

‘I think Chelsea next year could really surprise us,’ he continued. ‘Pochettino will bring the club together because he will. He’s likeable and the players will respect him enormously. 

‘I think he’ll do a very, very good job next season. He’ll cover a lot of the stuff that’s going on behind the scenes is my prediction. 

‘Those players are perfect for Pochettino. They are talented and young, but they just need direction.’

Despite having spent well over £600m on new recruits over the course of the 2022-23 season, Chelsea have struggled in the Premier League and currently find themselves in 12th place in the table. 

Boehly has already worked with three different managers since taking over in May 2022, having dismissed Thomas Tuchel after 100 days in charge and just seven games into the season in September. 

The Blues then forked out over £20m to lure Graham Potter away from Brighton, before relieving him of his duties at a further cost of £13m at the beginning of April. 

Frank Lampard was then appointed as interim manager until the end of the season, who is yet to win a game in his second stint in charge of the club and has now lost last five games in succession across all competitions. 

Chelsea have sacked both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter since the start of the season

Frank Lampard has returned for a second spell in charge of Chelsea but is without a win so far

Chelsea had identified former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann as the prime candidate to take over in the summer, but the 35-year-old later withdrew from consideration. 

Attention soon turned in the direction of Pochettino, who has been unemployed since parting ways with Paris Saint-Germain in June, 2022. 

Pochettino is reported to be representing himself in negotiations with Chelsea’s board.  

Neville believes that the 51-year-old is the right man to lead the underperforming Blues squad forwards in the coming season.