'Kill the rumours' - Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino reveals when his fate will be decided as he laments negative effect of speculation surrounding his future

Pochettino has endured a turbulent first season in charge of Chelsea which has led to speculation he could be fired. However, the Argentine has insisted he does not fear the sack if he is moved on after just 12 months in charge at Stamford Bridge. A decision is expected soon, with Pochettino admitting he expects to know what his future holds within the next week.

Chelsea have enjoyed an upturn in results in recent weeks to move into seventh place and have the chance of securing European football for next season. Co-owner Todd Boehly has praised the team's recent "beautiful football" in comments that suggest Pochettino could stay on after all. Pochettino signed a two-year deal at the club when he arrived in 2023.

He told reporters: "We are so comfortable. In the way we are not comfortable is to put in doubt — like are you are talking — are going to be here or not here? First, it is not my decision because if the owners are thinking to change — yes, for sure in one week [at the end of the season] we will know.

“That’s an instability with which we are comfortable working. We are going to be very strong in our efforts to help. It’s true that in the last few months, like we were talking, that question has always come up. You need to kill the rumours; if that’s not true, if not, the rumour is there for a different strategy.

"If you ask, is it affecting me? It is not affecting me. Is it affecting the people working with us? I think yes because, in the end, you can kill the rumour and sack me, and that’s not a problem. It happens in a lot of clubs.”

Chelsea travel to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest next and then head to Brighton on Wednesday. The Blues' final game of the season is at home to Bournemouth on Sunday, May 19. Pochettino is then expected to learn if he has earned himself another season in west London.