Mauricio Pochettino will be Chelsea's next permanent head coach. Credit: Getty Images/Michael Regan
Mauricio Pochettino has agreed terms to become Chelsea's new manager and take over pre-season this summer after the club's worst Premier League campaign in 20 years.
Telegraph Sport reported the deal was agreed just hours after interim manager Frank Lampard's team failed to win at Stamford Bridge against Nottingham Forest, the club with the worst away record in the Premier League.
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager was not at the game and is known to be currently out of the UK. His family base remains in London, although since he left Tottenham in November 2019 he has lived in Paris and lives in Barcelona where he has spent most of his playing career.
The Argentine is in no hurry to negotiate terms with a consortium that owns Chelsea, led by private investors Todd Boli and Behdad Egbali. The club has spent around £600m on players since the takeover 12 months ago, during which time they have sacked Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. The club is expected to have to invest in a new centre-forward and a new goalkeeper. Edouard Mendy returned to replace Kepa Arrizabalaga to face Forest, one of five substitutions.
Pochettino's loyal staff of Jesús Pérez, Miguel D'Agostino, Tony Jiménez and his son are expected Sebastiano will join him at Chelsea.
Chelsea have three games left this season — away to Manchester City and Manchester City. United and then back to Stamford Bridge for the final against Newcastle United. It is expected that Pochettino will not participate in any of them, and Lampard will remain in charge of the club until the end of the season.
Pochettino has never received offers from Spurs to return there. His former club is also looking for a new manager.
Lampard lamented his Chelsea team's lack of killer instinct against Forest. Under him, Chelsea managed just four points in the six Premier League games he was responsible for, taking a second-half lead thanks to two goals from Raheem Sterling. Forest striker Taiwo Avoni also had two for the visiting team, who used set pieces and long shots.
Following a nervous start, there was a promising performance from teenage left-back Lewis Hall, indicating that Lampard is trying to lay basis for its successor next season.
Lampard said the team lacked the Killers, who failed to capitalize on a first half in which Chelsea dominated possession but were one goal behind. “What disappointed me the most was that we lost 45 minutes in a game where we had total control and didn't do everything we talked about before the game.
“It's not good to play 60 or 70 percent in the last third. The last third should be 100 percent and not just repeat. It's not something that can change overnight. What will change this season is not the training at this stage of the season or how these games will look, but the idea is to stick with the idea and do this, do this and do this.
“ In the second half, when we showed bits of it, everything looked different, and it was a game that you wanted to come and see. You have to have speed in the last third of the game and at the moment we are too comfortable to go up there and be slow and not enough to defend. With more possession we should have more shots, more accuracy, more kills, but that's not the case and it's a process that will take time because it doesn't change now.”
Asked what he asked. Expected within the next two weeks, Lampard said: “I want to see a good game, some results [and] them [players] competing, showing pride. The things you want to see all the time. It starts now for Manchester City and it should continue for a week.
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