POCH’S IDEAL TIMING

OF COURSE Mauricio Pochettino was going to take the Chelsea job.

All this nonsense about ‘being mad to go there’.

Very few managers turn down a big club like that, no matter the problems they’re supposed to be having.

In fact, that’s one of the reasons he’ll have taken it.

Every manager goes into a club believing they can turn things around — with the tools to make things work and produce a winning team.

Pochettino (above) will be convinced he can be a success at Stamford Bridge.

Why wouldn’t he? Look at the players there, the infrastructure, the training ground, the money... the new stars they will bring in.

And they will sign more players this summer.

I don’t doubt Pochettino got guarantees over that, and I’m pretty sure he’ll have negotiated the right to influence who gets signed.

He is in a position of strength, after all.

And yeah, I know many people are saying Chelsea are broken, the owners are meddling too much and the club is unmanageable.

But sometimes, it’s just down to the players.

Perhaps they didn’t give Graham Potter a chance.

Perhaps they sniffed at Frank Lampard’s record at Everton before he came in.

If they try that with Pochettino, then they’ll be out the door.

He is right to take the job because of his self-belief, first and foremost.

But also, Todd Boehly and Co must now appreciate it isn’t just about throwing money around and signing players like they’ve gone mad in a sweet shop.

They know change is needed and that will take time — which gives Pochettino time. And that is all he will believe he needs.