Chelsea board give Mauricio Pochettino 'ultimatum' after Jose Mourinho 'rejection'

The Chelsea board has reportedly ruled out the possibility of Jose Mourinho and three other candidates taking over if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked at the end of the season.

The Argentinian manager, who saw his side thrash West Ham 5-0 on Sunday, has reportedly been given an ultimatum to secure a Europa League spot for next season in order to keep his job at Stamford Bridge.

Currently sitting seventh in the Premier League table with just three games remaining, Chelsea could fall further behind if Manchester United manage to secure at least a point against Crystal Palace tonight. With Newcastle two points ahead, Pochettino's men need to surpass the Magpies to ensure their place in next season's Europa League.

According to a report by David Ornstein on NBC Sport, Chelsea's top brass have made it clear to Pochettino that qualification for the European competition is a must if he wishes to remain in charge for the 2024/25 season. The Blues had already missed one chance to secure their place in the tournament next season after losing the Carabao Cup final to a Liverpool side plagued by injuries.

However, should Pochettino be shown the door, four potential replacements have already been dismissed, according to reports. The most notable name among them is Jose Mourinho, who was rumoured to be in line for a third spell at the west London club following his dismissal from Roma earlier this season.

The 'Special One', as he is fondly referred to by many Chelsea fans, had two successful stints with the club, bagging three Premier League titles, three League Cup trophies and an FA Cup win. Despite his subsequent appointments at rival clubs Manchester United and Tottenham, his achievements at Stamford Bridge are still celebrated.

Chelsea's