What would it take for Chelsea to sack Mauricio Pochettino? Blues boss told target he must hit in order to avoid seeing Todd Boehly wield the axe

The Blues have invested heavily across recent transfer windows, with the club’s Todd Boehly-led board splashing out more than £1 billion ($1.3bn) on fresh faces. Little return has been seen as yet, with the Premier League heavyweights still languishing in 10th while also being without European football for 2023-24.

Pochettino was drafted in to help turn the tide, with ex-Blues star Gallas telling Lord Ping of what he must do in order to avoid being ushered through the exits: “Chelsea are not consistent and that’s why fans are upset - you never know if they’ll win or lose a game and that’s why the fans are unhappy. Chelsea fans don’t accept to be in their position and they’re used to them finishing top four or being champion and now the last time they were champions was seven years ago. They won the Champions League two years ago but the Prem is very important for the English fans and that’s why Pochettino has fans on his back. Pochettino getting the sack? I don’t think he will be sacked but it all depends on where the finish this season. If it’s worse than last year I think maybe he will be. I think they will qualify for the Europa League - and they have to - otherwise it will be a massive failure. I think the owner will give him one more year to see if he can change a lot of things, including the results as right now we know they won’t be champions. Sixth or seventh is the reality and qualifying for the Europa League.”

Gallas added on why Chelsea are finding consistency so hard to come by, with injuries doing their cause few favours at present: "How is life under Pochettino? It’s been a difficult start for Pochettino, because when you see where Chelsea are, they are tenth. It’s difficult to accept Chelsea in that position. Last season, they finished 12th and this season they have to do better this season with Pochettino as their new coach. The problem is he has a lot of new players and they are young and don’t have experience - that’s why they’re not getting good results at the moment."

Chelsea will be back in action when taking in a trip to Wolves on Sunday, before then facing Crystal Palace and Luton through to the end of the calendar year – with a healthy haul of points required from those three games if they are to start pushing towards the European qualification spots.