Steve Sidwell has predicted where will finish in ’s first season at Stamford Bridge.
The former Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham and Southampton boss , becoming Chelsea’s sixth permanent manager in five years.
Chelsea slumped to a 12th-place finish last season but Blues fans are optimistic the club’s struggles are only temporary given the appointment of highly-rated manager Pochettino.
Sidwell, who spent a season at Chelsea in the late 2000s, expects an instant improvement from his former club and believes they will break back into the top-four.
‘Chelsea will finish higher than sixth this season, I can’t see them being any worse than last season,’ the ex-Premier League midfielder told the .
‘[Last year] there were a lot of changes – managers, players. I am a little bit worried in terms of experienced players, a lot of players have gone out.
‘There’s not a lot of activity with players coming in at the moment, especially on the more experienced side.
‘I do, however, believe they’ll finish in a top four place. Mauricio Pochettino was a great addition. He’s a manager that’s worked with high profile players, players with egos.
‘He’s a personal manager as well, that’s what’s needed, certainly with a lot of individuals within that dressing room.
‘He’s going to galvanise that dressing room, that squad – he has a good pre-season to work with as well and he’ll hope to get off to a flying start.’
Sidwell hopes Chelsea give Pochettino time and does not expect his history with Tottenham to affect his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
‘Chelsea managers will always be under pressure,’ the 40-year-old added. ‘That’s the nature of the club, the new owners when they came in, they said it wasn’t going to be for Graham Potter, but the club is built on success.
‘You’re hoping with [Mauricio] Pochettino in as manager, he will be allowed time – he’s got to be given time to establish his own ways.
‘To play his brand of football and his own ways around the club, as well as the players adapting to his style. But it is Chelsea Football Club at the end of the day.
‘He’ll last the course, he’ll want to get off to a flying start, as will the players. He’s obviously got that history with Tottenham Hotspur’s rivalry with Chelsea as well.
‘But football is a funny game and fans’ opinions do change. So, if they get off to a good start, which I’m sure they will, football fans are a fickle bunch, and they always change their mind.’
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