Mauricio Pochettino ‘in danger of sack if Chelsea fail to qualify for Europe as board demand improvement on Potter era’

MAURICIO POCHETTINO is not currently at risk of losing his job at Chelsea.

However, he could face the sack if the Blues fail to qualify for Europe this season.

Mauricio Pochettino could face the sack if Chelsea fail to qualify for EuropeAFP

His side are currently 10th in the Premier League but just three points adrift of seventh place.

Seventh spot was enough to secure Europa Conference League qualification last season.

The Telegraph report that Pochettino’s future is not in doubt at present with Chelsea still in the mix for European football.

That could change, though, if they miss out on a return to continental competition.

According to the report, the board are demanding an improvement on last season, which saw the Blues finish 12th, their lowest finish since 1994.

Pochettino can still secure European football through both the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, though, as well as the league.

Despite Tuesday’s 1-0 loss away to Middlesbrough, his side can still reach the Carabao Cup final with victory in the second leg on January 23.

Winning the competition for the first time since 2015 would guarantee a place in next season’s Europa Conference League play-off round.

Meanwhile, an FA Cup triumph comes with passage into the Europa League’s league phase in 2024/25.

Chelsea eased past Preston on Saturday to reach the fourth round, where they will host Aston Villa later this month.

Pochettino’s hopes could be boosted by even more transfer business this month.

Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk has been strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge after scoring 11 league goals for La Liga surprise package Girona this term.

Chelsea’s owners are demanding an improvement on last season from PochettinoGetty