Howe calls Pochettino axing 'harsh' and 'sad'

English Woman's Journal - Howe calls Pochettino axing 'harsh' and 'sad'

Howe calls Pochettino axing 'harsh' and 'sad' / Photo: Ben STANSALL - AFP

The Argentine was axed this week after just a year in charge despite steering Chelsea to a sixth-place finish and Europe next season -- three points clear of Newcastle in seventh.

"Very surprised," Howe said in Melbourne after winning a post-season friendly against Pochettino's former club Tottenham on Wednesday evening.

"I think Mauricio is a very, very good manager, he's done incredibly well regardless of the club he has managed in various countries.

"I think it's sad for the Premier League when a manager loses his job," he added.

"Especially when I think it is harsh as his performances have been very strong."

Some reports in England have said the highly-regarded Howe could be in the running for the Chelsea job.

Although Pochettino led the Blues into Europe after a strong finish to the campaign, it was a difficult year for the former Spurs and Paris Saint-Germain boss.

His side were booed by their fans after several dismal performances and lost the League Cup final to a youthful Liverpool side, as well as suffering an FA Cup semi-final defeat against Manchester City.

But Howe thought he was doing "a really good job".

"The latter part of their season their form was very strong, they pipped us for sixth place," he said.

Pochettino is the third manager after Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter to be axed since United States-based Todd Boehly's consortium bought Chelsea.

Newcastle have one more friendly to end their season, against an A-League All Stars side on Friday, again in Melbourne.

B.Jamieson--EWJ

Paul George Scores 36 as Celtics Defeat Sixers 123-101 to Take East Lead

The Boston Celtics claimed first place in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Paul George led all scorers with 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, while a decisive third-quarter run extended Boston's lead and dropped the Sixers to second place.

Mets President David Stearns Expresses Confidence in Marcus Semien's Motivation

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has identified Marcus Semien’s self-motivation as the primary factor in his potential recovery from an underwhelming debut season. Speaking at the general managers meetings in Las Vegas, Stearns affirmed that the team remains confident in Semien’s ability to improve, even as they evaluate other infield options for next year.

FA Cup Second-Round Draw Confirmed for Non-League and Midlands Clubs

The FA Cup second-round draw has been finalized, setting up crucial ties for non-league teams aiming to reach the third round proper. Several clubs from the Midlands, including Burton Albion and Kidderminster Harriers, have secured their next opponents following recent victories over lower-league opposition.

Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium

The new Penrith Stadium is expected to be ready in time for the opening round of the 2027 NRL season, but it’s still likely the Panthers is expected to be on the road for their early matches. There is no delay to the build of the new $309 million venue but there’s a lack of appetite for risk around weather delays through the summer.