Mauricio Pochettino admits lack of control over squad with “I can’t guarantee” statement

Mauricio Pochettino admits lack of control over squad with “I can’t guarantee” statement

The Conor Gallagher issues is turning into the focus of this January – Chelsea want to sell him, but he doesn’t want to leave, and manager Mauricio Pochettino clearly wants him to stay too.

Pochettino was asked very directly in his press conference today if he could guarantee that fan favourite Gallagher would stay. He responded that he couldn’t even guarantee his own future, let alone that of the midfielder:

“I can’t even guarantee I am going to be here tomorrow! Only the player can guarantee or the club, the player more so than the club because he’s got a year and a half left,” the coach said, noting the contract situation that’s pushing Gallagher towards the exit.

He’s made it into a joke – albeit a bleak one – but we all know that this is just avoiding the question, and therefore confirming what we all know: that he doesn’t get to pick which players are in his squad.

While it’s not healthy for a manager to have total control, it’s just as bad for them to have no control. This is only going to end badly.