Gus Poyet Tips Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea To Finish Above Tottenham In Upcoming Premier League Season

Gus Poyet has backed former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to finish higher than his old team during his first Premier League season as Chelsea manager.

Gus Poyet has backed former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to outperform his old team during his first season as Chelsea manager.

Pochettino was in charge at Spurs for five and a half years between May 2014 and November 2019.

Under Pochettino, Tottenham placed higher than Chelsea in the Premier League on two occasions.

Spurs also finished 16 points above Chelsea in last season's EPL.

But Poyet - who represented both clubs during his playing career - is expecting Chelsea to fare better than Spurs in the upcoming 2023/24 campaign.

Mauricio Pochettino pictured holding up a Chelsea scarf at Stamford Bridge shortly after being appointed as the club's new manager earlier this month :: IMAGO/Focus Images/Benjamin Gilbert

Speaking to FanNation Futbol this week, Poyet said: "I think Chelsea will finish higher than Spurs this season. Especially if Harry Kane leaves [Spurs], then for sure Chelsea.

"I think Chelsea are building something very special, not only because of Pochettino, not just because of the new players, but because of how they make it a new squad to play in a certain way.

"They're going to be more solid now compared to last season, the only thing we need is for them to gel.

"They also just need to start the season by winning, because when you win, you convince yourselves and everybody else.

"But we'll see because last year the gap was too big, so Chelsea needs that for sure."

Pochettino was previously in charge at Tottenham Hotspur for five and a half seasons :: IMAGO/Colorsport/Andrew Cowie

Chelsea beat Wrexham 5-0 in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday in Pochettino's first game in charge.

Next up for Chelsea is a clash with Brighton in the Premier League Summer Series on Saturday night. That game will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Poyet - who has been managing the Greece men's national team since early last year - was speaking to FanNation Futbol on behalf of https://legalsportsbooks.com/.