Mauricio Pochettino has insisted leaving Chelsea this summer “would not be the end of the world,” as he pledged to assess his own future at the end of the season.
Chelsea chiefs are primed to review manager Pochettino’s future at the end of the campaign and the 52-year-old is not yet safe in his job despite having another 12 months on his contract.
Pochettino’s future has often been characterised as hinging on the decision of the Chelsea owners, who are still deliberating on the manager situation for next season.
But now the former Tottenham boss has insisted he has a decision to make too, and he will continue to weigh up his feelings on whether he and his coaches are happy at Stamford Bridge.
“We know the organisation that the club is building here; we are all under assessment,” said Pochettino ahead of facing Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
“If we are happy, perfect. But it’s not only if the owner is happy, or the sporting directors are happy. If we are happy, we need to ask also, because maybe we say we are not happy.
“If we assess the situation and we are not happy, then we need to split.
“But it’s not going to be the first time that a coaching staff decide at the end of a season not to keep going. But at this stage, it goes in the opposite way.
“They can say tomorrow: ‘Stay here’. Or maybe tomorrow I can say: ‘Look, I want to leave’. It’s two parts that can take a decision.
“If Chelsea are not happy or the sporting directors are not happy, maybe we are not happy, because we arrive here with a job to do but then, it’s not happened how we expected. So maybe we are not happy.
“I’m not saying that I am not happy! But always it’s from one side, but okay, maybe there’s another side.
“Maybe if we leave here, it’s not a problem, it’s not going to be the end of the world.”
Co-owner Todd Boehly said this week that Chelsea’s set-up is “coming together” under Pochettino, in positive comments made in the United States.
Blues manager Pochettino welcomed the Chelsea supremo’s public support, but is well aware why that does not represent stone-cold backing in terms of next season.
Pochettino, Chelsea’s sporting directors and top board figures are due to meet in the days after the season’s end before making a final decision on next season.
“People who understand football understand the situation wasn’t ideal.”
Mauricio Pochettino
“I think he described the reality,” said Pochettino.
“I think Todd was very good with us, even when it was a tough moment, always very positive through the message in a private way. But in public now, if the owner is happy, it is much better I think it’s good for the club, the fans and the players.
“When you win games, the emotions are good and you see things a different way. Today is a sunny day, you have good news and all looks better.
“But our responsibility is to look at the past and people who understand football understand the situation wasn’t ideal but now we are happy because we can finish the season.
“If we finish the season strong, with our record good at Stamford Bridge, it is contagious. It will be possible to project good energy and performances into next season.”
Captain Reece James is back in full training and could yet feature at Forest, having been sidelined since December after hamstring surgery.