Emmanuel Petit has questioned Chelsea's ownership over their recent managerial changes.
The Blues parted ways with Mauricio Pochettino after last season and hired former Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca, who is now preparing for his first campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino lasted just one season with Chelsea despite finishing the campaign strong, as the Blues won each of their final five Premier League matches to finish in sixth place.
The late season surge wasn't enough to save Pochettino's job however, and Chelsea moved quickly for Maresca to take his place.
For Petit, the move was a hasty one given Chelsea's vast improvement in the table under Pochettino, with the club going from 12th in the 2022-23 season to within five points of a Champions League berth a year later. Petit, who played for Monaco, Barcelona and Arsenal before ending his career with Chelsea in the early 2000s, told Gambling Zone that the lack of patience by the Blues' Todd Boehly-led ownership is not sustainable.
"My advice to the American owners is simple," Petit said. "They have made so many mistakes since they bought the club.
"You must realise what football is. We are not in America. You must be very realistic about what you want to do and understand your limitations.
"You brought in a new manager in Enzo Maresca, well it will take months for him to stamp his authority on the team and for the players to understand his methods. I still don't get why you sacked Pochettino because the improvement was there for everyone to see in the last few months of the season.
"Now, you turn the page on Poch and open a new book with a new manager and a new playing philosophy. On top of that, you decide to make that change in a summer when there is the European Championships and the Copa America. That means the preparation for the next season will be spoiled because most of the players won't be there and it makes Maresca’s job even more difficult.
"You decide to change your manager. You decide to put your best player (Conor Gallagher) on the transfer market for a bargain price. Come on, guys."
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