Chelsea's decision to part ways with manager Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday surprised many former players who believe it could torpedo the club's endeavor to return to the top of the Premier League. Pochettino joined Chelsea ahead of the 2023-24 campaign after the club finished 12th in the previous season. The early months of the Argentine's tenure were far from convincing as the expensively assembled squad took time to gel, but a run of five straight wins in their last five league games lifted them to sixth place and secured European football.