MAURICIO POCHETTINO has signed on the dotted line to become the new Chelsea manager.
Pochettino inherits a club in desperate need off attention after a disastrous season.
The ex-Tottenham manager has signed a deal for up to three years.
He will not start work officially until July 1 because he is still running down his contract with Paris Saint-Germain who sacked the Argentine last July.
He is also taking charge of the World XI for next month’s Soccer Aid charity football match at Old Trafford.
But Pochettino has been tracking developments with the Chelsea team, watching games and drawing up assessments of what he needs to do to turn the failing squad around.
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Caretaker boss Frank Lampard is signing off today after stepping in as caretaker boss – the fourth man to pick the team this season.
But results have been dreadful and the players have failed to respond and Chelsea are condemned to a bottom half finish in the Premier League to mark the end of American financier Todd Boehly’s dramatic first year as chairman.
Around £600million has been invested in a record-breaking transfer spend.
At one point there were 33 senior players listed in the first team squad in the club’s official website.
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Confirmation of Pochettino’s arrival as the new head coach is expected within 24 hours.
The Argentine is likely to bring his usual backroom staff with him to Stamford Bridge.
His coaching team comprises of assistant boss Jesus Perez, as well as Toni Jimenez, Miguel D’Agostino and son Sebastiano.
Pochettino managed Chelsea’s London rivals Spurs between 2014 and 2019 – reaching the Champions League final in his final full season in charge.
He subsequently spent 18 months at PSG, winning the Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions during his time in the French capital.
Lampard, meanwhile, will bring his disastrous Stamford Bridge return to a close this afternoon.
The Blues host Newcastle, and could potentially rise to 11th with a win.
Their caretaker boss and all-time leading scorer Lamps has won just one of his ten matches in charge this season – losing eight.
Ahead of his third Chelsea departure, Lampard said: “I will never feel like I am saying goodbye to the fans.
“It will be the end of season and the end of my time back but normally when you leave a club you don’t have a hurrah as a manager. You are in one day, out the next and that’s fine.
“When you take on a managerial career it doesn’t mean you will be at a club you had 13 years at as a player forever.
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“I certainly do appreciate the fans’ support on Sunday.
“More than anything I would love to give them a performance to take away for the summer and feel a bit more positive about.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
