Noni Madueke Becomes First Chelsea Player to React to Mauricio Pochettino's Departure

• Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent on Tuesday, May 22
• The Argentine only lasted 11 months as the manager of the London club
• Noni Madueke became the first Chelsea player to comment on the news

Chelsea winger, Noni Madueke, became the first player to publicly react to news of Mauricio Pochettino’s exit from the West London club.

The Argentine's surprise exit was announced via the club's official website on Tuesday, May 21, ending his 11-month reign at the Blues.

The 52-year-old had a turbulent first season at Stamford Bridge, but there were hints he was finally getting it right towards the end of the 2023/2024 season, with Chelsea winning their last five league fixtures.

However, the two parties have decided to part ways, with reports claiming the former Tottenham Hotspur boss was discontent with the club board’s unwillingness to back him up in the upcoming transfer window.

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Madueke reacts to Pochettino's Chelsea exit

News of Pochettino’s Chelsea exit, just two days after the final game of the season, appears to have caught both players and fans off-guard.

Blues winger, Madueke, could not help himself and took to his social media to share his feelings on the news.

On his Instagram stories, the 22-year-old shared an image of himself and his former boss on the training pitch with a caption that read, 'Thank you'.

Madueke’s post will likely mirror what a majority of the Blues youngsters would feel towards Pochettino.

In April 2024, on the back of a humbling 5-0 defeat to Arsenal, Football London reported that the Chelsea dressing room had faith in their manager amid reports that he would get sacked at the time.

Madueke's stats for Chelsea

The England international was initially not favoured by Pochettino at the start of the season and went several matches as an unused substitute.

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In the second half of the campaign, however, Madueke came into his own, helping his side go on a brilliant run to ensure a sixth-place finish on the log.

According to Transfermarkt, Madueke made 34 appearances for Chelsea in the 2023/2024 season, including 22 games in the Premier League.

Chelsea fans want Tuchel

Sports Brief also recently reported on Chelsea fans wanting Thomas Tuchel back after news broke about the departure of Pochettino.

Moments after news of the Argentine’s exit hit social media, Blues fans were adamant they wanted their former manager in the dugout.