Raheem Sterling appears to aim sly dig at Graham Potter with Mauricio Pochettino Chelsea verdict

Chelsea confirmed the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as the club's new manager on Monday afternoon as he finally becomes Graham Potter's permanent successor on July 1

Mauricio Pochettino has been announced as Chelsea's new manager after signing a two-year deal - with the option of a further year. The 51-year-old has been without a job since leaving Paris Saint-Germain following their Ligue 1 title success at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

The 28-year-old scored just nine goals in his debut season with the Blues with his drop in form resulting in him being left out of Gareth Southgate's latest England squad selection. Speaking after the 2022/23 campaign came to a close, Sterling told Arab News: "We [Chelsea] have a good squad, the quality is there.

"We will add some players and some will leave, I get it, but there’s no doubt in my mind we will be challenging again very soon. From the start of this season we have not had our best XI out.

"The majority of it, we have had 11, 12 players out injured so it was an unfair start. But then again, these are the challenges that happen at the top football clubs and it will get us the consistency we need.

"It’s been hard work, it’s been a tough season, but I always believe after tough times there will be good times if you keep working hard. No matter how this season has gone, good, bad or indifferent, I’ve tried to keep the same focus, the same work-rate and believe you will see the shadow pass."

The Chelsea star went on to discuss the appointment of Pochettino at Stamford Bridge, hinting that the Argentine will bring a key quality that his predecessors lacked, appearing to aim a swipe at Graham Potter in the process. Sterling added: "From his [Pochettino] time before at Tottenham, I heard a conversation about him and he’s the exact person that we need.

"He will bring leadership, he will challenge players physically and mentally and I think he is going to come here and he is going to have the personality that everyone is going to respect. That’s what we need, someone in charge."

Pochettino is Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years and arrives following the sackings of Thomas Tuchel and Potter earlier in the 2022/23 campaign. In a statement following the Argentine's appointment, Chelsea sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said: "Mauricio’s experience, standards of excellence, leadership qualities and character will serve Chelsea Football Club well as we move forward.

"He is a winning coach, who has worked at the highest levels, in multiple leagues and languages. His ethos, tactical approach and commitment to development all made him the exceptional candidate."