Gary Neville makes enormous Chelsea manager U-turn after surprise change

Former Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino returned to football management as he was appointed USA manager

Gary Neville has claimed that Mauricio Pochettino needed the US Men's national team role after 'falling out of love' with football management following ill-fated spells at Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentine was appointed in the international role in a surprise move ahead of the World Cup in the region in 2026.

Pochettino was unceremoniously sacked in the summer, despite salvaging a Europa Conference League place, after a difficult debut campaign at Stamford Bridge. Enzo Maresca replaced the former Tottenham Hotspur boss in the summer after leading Leicester City back to the Premier League.

During his time in West London, Pochettino oversaw free-spending in the transfer window as Todd Boehly splashed out on a host of new additions, including Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Albion after facing competition from Liverpool. Neville believes that the role at North America is right for the 52-year-old after a difficult few years in the dugout.

"Coming back off the back of Chelsea and PSG, maybe (he wanted the US job)," he said on the It's Called Soccer Podcast. "You get the feeling that because he's such a genuine good person that the way in which he managed at Tottenham, played good football, has he fallen out of love a little bit with what he's experienced in the last two or three years?

"It wouldn't surprise me because you've seen how he's been treated and what's happened at Chelsea, it's been challenging there, that maybe he just wanted a job where he knows he can come over for two years and really concentrate on something. The positivity around it is huge.

"They've got one of the best coaches in the world, deemed one of the top five in Europe over the last eight years, he looked completely relaxed (in the press conference). There was times at Chelsea and you're watching some you like, you know and the fit of the current Chelsea with him just wasn't right."

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Neville has long been an advocate for the Argentine and sang his praises following Graham Potter's dismissal. Frank Lampard endured a difficult spell in caretaker charge at Stamford Bridge and the former Manchester United defender predicted that Pochettino would be the man to guide Chelsea back to the top end of the Premier League table.

"I do actually think Chelsea - if they can get to the end of the season which they obviously will and they can appoint a manager in the summer and the talk is of Pochettino - someone will be able to mould them into a decent team," he admitted. "One that can challenge for the top four and for trophies next season. That's how bad this team is at this moment in time.

"I think they're capable of that, that's what makes it even worse. I think they can actually be a real challenger in the top three."