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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has come under pressure at Stamford Bridge this season (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has come under pressure at Stamford Bridge this season, with his side winning just 15 of their 35 Premier League matches. And the catalyst for the Argentine’s sacking could come in the form of a Manchester United victory in the FA Cup final.
Pochettino took charge at Chelsea last summer following a dismal campaign that saw the Blues finish 12th in the Premier League table. He struggled during the early stages of his Stamford Bridge career, however, with his side losing eight league matches before Christmas.
The former Tottenham boss has managed to turn things around in 2024, with Chelsea now knocking on the door of European qualification after already making an appearance in the Carabao Cup final and the FA Cup semi-finals. The west London outfit currently occupy seventh spot in the league and are just two points behind sixth-place Newcastle with three matches remaining.
According to The Athletic, Pochettino has been told by the Chelsea hierarchy that he needs to secure a place in next season’s Europa League to keep his job beyond the end of the campaign. And a sixth-place top-flight finish would often be enough for that to happen. But if the Red Devils defeat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, the second Europa League qualifying spot would be handed to them at the expense of the sixth best team in the league.
Manchester United lost to Manchester City in last season's FA Cup final (Image: GETTY)
Chelsea would have at least had some control over whether United tasted FA Cup success had they seen off Pep Guardiola’s City side in the semi-finals. But they lost the last four encounter 1-0 and must now rely on the Citizens to do them a favour should they manage to leapfrog Newcastle in the league over the coming weeks.
City will go into the Wembley showdown as huge favourites following another strong season under their Spanish manager. The seven-time Premier League champions have been in scintillating form since the end of last year, with their last defeat in 90 minutes coming at Aston Villa in early December.
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City and United met in the FA Cup final last season, with the Citizens coming out on top courtesy of a 2-1 victory. And Pochettino will be desperate for Guardiola to lead his team to success at the national stadium once again later this month.
Chelsea’s top-six destiny is already out of their hands ahead of their final league matches against Nottingham Forest, Brighton and Bournemouth. But if Newcastle drop points in any of their fixtures against Manchester United, Brighton and Brentford, the Blues will be ready to pounce.
