Pochettino facing Levy problem at Chelsea after Tottenham frustration
Mauricio Pochettino admits he needs to be "more involved" in transfers - a feeling he had during his tenure at Tottenham.
The Argentine returned to the Premier League this summer after several years away from England's top flight. He's in the midst of trying to get a tune out of his Chelsea squad, which has been lavishly assembled across several different managerial regimes, all sanctioned by Todd Boehly.
The American has taken a hands-on role in recruitment at Stamford Bridge, although spending more than £1billion has done little to improve the team's fortunes. Already the Blues have lost three times this term and, as Pochettino looks for answers, he admits he needs to have more influence over the ins and outs.
He said: "The good thing, the relationship is very good with the owners and the sporting directors. I think like I told before, when the transfer window was closed, I need to be involved, more involved now, in every single decision. I think we need to start identifying what we need for January. We already start to work."
In the summer, Chelsea added the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. They haven't been able to take the west Londoners closer to the top though after their first bottom half finish in more than two decades last season.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rushPochettino is having to watch those above him make recruitment decisions and that is something he voiced frustrations with in his past role in London. While at Tottenham, the 51-year-old morphed their young side into title challengers, despite having a far lower budget than their rivals.
Daniel Levy, like Boehly, played a key role in transfer activity which eventually led Pochettino to concede he was coaching the players and had no control over who came into the club and who extended their deals.
"I am not in charge, I know nothing about the situation of my players," he confessed. "I am only coaching them, trying to get the best from them. These types of things, what will happen, what will not happen, selling and buying of players, extending contracts, not extending contracts, I think it is not in my hands. It is in the club hands, and Daniel Levy. At the moment I am managing the team in the best way possible."
Whilst at Tottenham, Pochettino had an incredible low net spend with many of his success stories coming as a result of academy products. At Chelsea big sums have been spent, but questions remain as to who is pursuing the deals.