Mauricio Pochettino to Trim Chelsea Squad: Up to 15 Players Could Leave

Mauricio Pochettino will have to reduce the squad and, according to English media, he could free himself of up to 15 players

Mauricio Pochettino has work to do Chelsea . The coach signed until 2025 with the option for the club to extend the contract until 2026. It’s a long term project for which the technician must lay the first drafts. And one of the most urgent tasks will be to reduce the large workforce.

The former Tottenham and Espanyol player, among others, has in his hands planning the revival of a Chelsea who, since winning the Champions League in 2021, has not looked up. Chelsea have spent over 600 million euros in the last transfer market and will not play in European competition next season.

Surplus of footballers

With 33 players plus those ready in an unbalanced team, it is now to Pochettino to decide the future of several of these footballers. According to Daily Mail, until 15 players have their future up in the air and could leave Stamford Bridge.

“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Edouard Mendy and Callum Hudson-Odoi had to leave, while the future of Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta and N’Golo Kante is not clear”, indicates the English newspaper.

Other players mentioned are Denis Zakaria who would return to Juventus, his original club, and Kovacic, Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah et Loftus-Cheek who could also leave.

The João Felix case

Another of those who won’t continue is Joao Félix, a player Pochettino has no intention of keeping next season. he will therefore return to Atlético the team that lent him to find a solution.

“The truth is, I can’t tell you the plan with Joao. That’s the news we got yesterday, that the new manager won’t retain him for Chelsea. We don’t have anything planned yet. Joao is an Atlético player now “, said Tuesday Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético which confirmed what MARCA had announced.