Some players may now have a new opportunity following Pochettino’s exit (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea great Pat Nevin believes a number of Chelsea’s loan stars will feel they have an ‘excellent’ chance of being part of the first-team next season.
The Blues parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino last week with the Argentine leaving Stamford Bridge after just one season in charge.
Moving quickly to appoint a successor, Enzo Maresca is now poised to takeover at the new head coach.
Chelsea’s young squad struggled to gel at times last season but produced a strong end to the 2023-24 season with Cole Palmer leading the charge during his thrilling first campaign at the club.
A handful of other youngsters failing to impress under Pochettino with Ian Maatsen and Armando Broja failing to make an impact before leaving on loan in January. Maatsen went onto have a superb spell in Germany, helping Dortmund reach the Champions League final with Broja having a forgettable spell at Fulham.
Omari Hutchinson, Cesare Casadei and Andrey Santos are among the other Chelsea stars who had impressive spells away at the club, hoping to force their way into the team back in west London.
Nevin, who made over 200 appearances for the club, doubts there will be many players at Chelsea who will have been relieved to see Pochettino leave.
Maatsen has impressed in Germany (Picture: DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
But the former Blues star believes a number of those sent out on loan will now be relishing their chance to impress under a new manager.
Assessing what players might fancy their chances with Pochettino gone, Nevin told Metro.co.uk via Spin Genie: ‘The vast majority of players not in the team have been injured.
‘You can’t tell who would be relieved. If Poch had everyone fit for the whole of the season, I’d be able to give you six names on the top of my head because they weren’t starting every week.
‘A player like Raheem would feel as though he wasn’t a major player for Pochettino lately but he won’t be too upset because that’s not his personality. It will only be players sent out on loan that will now think, ‘Good I’ve got an excellent chance of being part of the team next season’.
‘Footballers are selfish and they have to be successful, that’s the deal. It’s the opposite of my personality generally but it’s also human nature and needed in football.’
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