CHELSEA'S POCHETTINO CALLS FOR 'STUPID' EXIT RUMOURS TO STOP

Mauricio Pochettino expects to be in the Chelsea dugout next season despite the club's disappointing season. Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

 Mauricio Pochettino has called for "stupid rumours" around his Chelsea future to stop and insisted he will see out the final year of his contract unless told otherwise by the club.

The 52-year-old has endured a tumultuous first season at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea scrambling to qualify for Europe next season, despite owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital spending more than £1 billion ($1.25bn) on new players since their 2022 takeover.

Pochettino has faced chants to be sacked from disgruntled supporters -- who have also chanted the name of former coach José Mourinho -- but Thursday's 2-0 win over Tottenham leaves Chelsea just two points off seventh place, which would be enough to secure a Europa Conference League spot next term.

Speculation persists that Pochettino's job could be at risk and he told Sky Sports after beating Spurs that "it was difficult to see every single week that I am under scrutiny."

Pushed further on this issue, Pochettino said: "We were talking about the judgement at the end of the season, if I feel I am under scrutiny.

"That was the question from the people. But it is like [we have] to prove, after all these circumstances and all of this situation, that we deserve to be here next season. I say, "Who is going to judge me?

"I need to judge myself and all the players, and of course with all the circumstances [of the season].

"But I wanted to say that it is enough with these type of rumours. If I have one more year on my contract here, and no one says nothing, [I] suppose that I am going to be here. [That changes] only if we then finish the season and someone says to me, 'ciao.'

"Because we don't know at the moment. I suppose I have one more year on my contract and that I am going to be here. But enough about the stupid rumours. You need to ask the club if they want me to keep going or not -- not to write things that have no sense."

- James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FC