Chelsea fans will be wondering how they have managed to finish sixth after ending the season with a win over Bournemouth.
At one stage of the season, the struggling Premier League outfit were at risk of missing out on Europe for the second season running, despite spending over £1bn over the last few years.
But the under-fire Mauricio Pochettino has ensured that the last 15 Premier League matches have resulted in only the league’s top two – Manchester City and Arsenal – picking up more points than Chelsea.
There will be mixed emotions at Stamford Bridge. On one hand, they will feel they should have won a trophy, the League Cup final defeat to Liverpool will haunt them, but on the other, there is a clear improvement in the style of play, individuals and home form.
Alan Shearer is ‘no doubt’ that Mauricio Pochettino is now getting this pretty expensively-assembled train going, as he told Match of the Day.
Ian Wright added that the Argentine, who has a strong record of working well with youngsters, is ‘getting it right now’.
Yes, it’s still not where Chelsea wants to be, but it’s still a positive step forward, or so everyone would think.
When Chelsea’s season finale concluded against Bournemouth, the noises coming out of Pochettino’s mouth and what has been said is proving to be a ‘slight concern’ for Shearer.
It seems as though the recently-appointed Chelsea boss isn’t convinced about his future and Gary Lineker feels he might be playing a game of chess.
Time will now tell, but Shearer doesn’t like what he is hearing out of the club, despite the strong finish for the team and a return to Europe ahead of the next campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino and the Chelsea owners
“No doubt about it,” responded Shearer on Pochettino now getting it going. “Only Man City and Arsenal have taken more points in the last 15 games than Chelsea. There is a slight concern. Some of the words Mauricio (Pochettino) is using after games, in terms of how the owners, where they want to go, how they see things etc…”
Lineker added: “Maybe he is in a position of strength and that’s why he is doing it now. Maybe looking ahead, possibly.”
Wright stated: “We always knew he was good with young players and he has taken his time to sort them out, but they seem to be getting it right now, Chelsea.”
Chelsea’s summer transfer business
Both incomings and outgoings. All worth keeping an eye on and both will make interesting viewing.
A certain Conor Gallagher has been a key player for Pochettino this season. The manager has proven what the England star means to him and he is a boyhood fan of the club.
READ MORE: Exclusive: Chelsea believe they have won race for wonderkid after agreeing £60m deal
But sources have told HITC that the Chelsea hierarchy is yet to be convinced in handing a new deal to Gallagher and, as a result, he could be sold this summer.
Nicolas Jackson has had a very mixed season as a striker and talk of the club needing that number always rears its ugly head.
HITC has already revealed that Victor Osimhen remains Chelsea’s number one target, but if they can’t get the Napoli hitman, then they have a host of strikers they will push for this summer.
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