Chelsea parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino earlier in the week and journalist Miguel Delaney has given his take on why he went and why two names now stand to replace him.

Pochettino had enjoyed a fine final third of the season to guide Chelsea into the European places and many believed he’d stay on and go for top four next season.

However, the decision was taken and now Pochettino is back on the market, with Manchester United linked with a move for him.

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Of course, the decision has come as a surprise to fans.

But according to Miguel Delaney, the decision is purely in line with Chelsea’s business model and why the likes of Kieran McKenna and Enzo Maresca are now being considered.

Why Enzo Maresca and Kieran McKenna are in the mix to replace Pochettino at Chelsea

Writing in the latest edition of the Reading the Game newsletter for the Independent, journalist Delaney gave insight into why Chelsea made the change and their plans going forward.

“Pochettino felt the improvement in results showed he was on the right track and should have resulted in more power, not least as regards recruitment,” Delaney writes.

“Chelsea really don’t want to deviate from this head coach structure. It was why all their targets, especially in Leicester’s Enzo Maresca and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, fit this mode.

“Some around the club would even insist in a change in the narrative. They stress this is not the same old Chelsea, or the usual problems with this ownership. They think it is a rational adherence to a policy. Pochettino has meanwhile been speaking like a man who has options. A number of major clubs are interested.”

Chelsea could be left with egg on their face

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A lot of big businesses make big decisions and they live and die by those decisions.

But while Chelsea have not been shy of making a big call or two in recent times, the one with Pochettino has really surprised people.

They now simply have to get their next move right. If it is to be McKenna or Maresca, then they need a lot longer than Pochettino got to get things right.

Chelsea have gone bold here and stuck to a plan from the top down.

Time will tell, then, if they’ve got it right.