AC Milan identify Mauricio Pochettino as Stefano Pioli's replacement

The Argentine’s future remains unclear at Stamford Bridge

Though the identity of AC Milan‘s head coach for the upcoming campaign appears to remain unclear as the days go by and the season draws to a close, Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino is a name to keep an eye on.

La Repubblica (via PianetaMilan) claims that despite San Siro’s 5-1 victory over Cagliari, practically nothing has changed. The leadership has already determined that Stefano Pioli will step down at the end of this season to make up for his poor performance in pivotal games.

Numerous contenders, like Sergio Conceicao of Porto, Paulo Fonseca of Lille, Mark van Bommel of Antwerp, and Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton, have already been connected; however, an unfamiliar face has just been added to the list.

Giorgio Furlani, Geoffrey Moncada, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and others are reportedly monitoring Pochettino’s position. Pochettino is at present with Chelsea, but there are still rumours that he may be fired.

Regarding his future with the Blues, the Argentine has opened the door for himself. Following yesterday night’s victory over Nottingham Forest, he responded to a question about it.

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“I never said I am not happy. I never said that. I said maybe I am not happy, maybe I am happy. But it’s normal, the headline,” he said (via The Standard).

“Sometimes too much honesty when I’m talking but it’s not a problem. I have one year more on my contract. Like I said yesterday, I’m thinking always in the long term, thinking that it’s going to be for life here.

“We are professional, we try to win games. We are trying to make the owners happy and the staff. I am responsible for all of the staff at the training ground in Cobham. I try to make the players happy and the fans. That is my job. Easy [laughs]. So easy.”

Chelsea’s position in the table at seventh is boosting their chances of qualifying for Europe the following year.

Thanks to goals from Nicolas Jackson two minutes later and Raheem Sterling’s equaliser in the 80th minute, they rallied from a goal down. Captain Reece James, making his first appearance in a five-month absence due to hamstring surgery, sent a precise cross for Jackson to head home.

James’s comeback to fitness on Saturday was encouraging, as it increases his chances of being included in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad. However, Mauricio Pochettino regretted that James’s comeback occurred so late in the season.

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