Contenders to replace Poch at Chelsea after Carabao Cup heartbreak

Mauricio Pochettino missed the chance to spark his disappointing first season at Chelsea into life after losing the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool.

With the Blues 11th in the Premier League and in danger of another trophyless campaign, pressure is growing on the Argentine at Stamford Bridge.

We look at the current contenders to replace the 51-year-old should Todd Boehly and Co decide to make a change.

Jose Mourinho

Sunday's defeat at Wembley was Chelsea's sixth consecutive loss in a major final, so could one of their most successful bosses restore that winning feeling?

Rumours of Jose Mourinho eyeing up a third stint in West London are not going away, with the Portuguese tactician out of work since leaving Roma in January.

Mourinho, 61, has managed Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham since leaving the Blues for the second time in 2015.

But there is no doubt the three-time Premier League winner's return would prove popular among large sections of supporters.

Michel

If the Blues wanted a more up-and-coming manager, few are outdoing the miracles Michel is currently working at Girona in Spain.

Relative minnows compared to their rivals, Girona have been battling with Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top of LaLiga for much of the campaign.

With a proven track record of developing youngsters and an exciting brand of football to boot, the Spaniard looks set to quickly become a top managerial target for Premier League chiefs.

Roberto De Zerbi

The pathway from Brighton to Chelsea is well trodden and that has unsurprisingly seen Roberto De Zerbi come into the frame.

Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez, as well as Graham Potter and a number of staff members, have all swapped the South Coast for West London within the last two years.

The Italian has taken the Seagulls to new heights since Potter's departure but is also being linked with the soon-to-be-vacant post at Liverpool.

Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim is another named as a contender at Anfield as well as Chelsea — and for good reason.

The Sporting coach was in the running before Pochettino was handed the job last April and his stock remains high after guiding the Portuguese side to their first league title for 19 years in 2020-21.

It seems only a matter of time before the tactician finds himself at a Premier League club but whether the 39-year-old is the right man to get the best of this young Chelsea squad is debatable.

Hansi Flick

Some may argue that decorated boss Mourinho's time has been and gone, while the other options on this list could be regarded as a little unproven at the top level.

Hansi Flick, who is eyeing a return to management, seems to have both requirements going for him despite his torrid spell in charge of the German national team.

The 59-year-old won the Champions League and Bundesliga during his time at Bayern Munich and would back himself to deliver more honours with his next club.

But having been linked with Barcelona, he may need some convincing to snub the Camp Nou in favour of a difficult project with the Blues.