Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has publicly spoken for the first time since his unexpected departure from Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino said Chelsea had shown a “big improvement” during his single season as manager in his first public comments since his Stamford Bridge exit.
The Argentine left the club by mutual consent last month despite a strong end to a turbulent season in which they spent much of the campaign languishing in mid-table in the Premier League.
The Blues won their final five games to finish sixth and earn a place in the UEFA Conference League, also reaching the final of the League Cup and the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
On Monday, Chelsea appointed Leicester boss Enzo Maresca as Pochettino’s successor on a five-year deal.
Addressing the club’s ownership and supporters via social media, Pochettino, 52, he said he had worked hard to “give you a Chelsea you can be proud of”.
The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss said the team had progressed after finishing a lowly 12th in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season.
Taking to his Instagram account on Tuesday, the former Blues boss wrote: “To the owners, the sporting directors we appreciate the opportunity to return to the Premier League at this great club Chelsea and for the support you gave us, as well as from all the players, staff and fans – thank you.
“We understand how important this football club is to you all and that is why we work so hard to give you a Chelsea you can be proud of. I am so pleased with the level the team reached and the way the players and staff have all worked so hard to increase their standards, they deserve great credit and I hope you felt that too in how they performed on the pitch.
“We know there have been ups and downs but we always believed in this team and that we would arrive at a consistent level. I believe the experiences of this season and big improvement we saw, I hope will only make the players stronger for the future. It has been a pleasure to work with them all and we appreciate the strong bonds we created in this last year together.
“I want to wish all of you the best for next season and beyond. It is great that we have the chance to return to Stamford Bridge so soon with Soccer Aid this weekend and I hope that we get to see some of you there too.”
