Mauricio Pochettino faces uncertain future after Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat with manager under pressure to secure European football… as Blues retain interest in Sporting boss Ruben Amorim

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term position as head coach is uncertain, with qualification for European football emerging as a crucial factor in determining the Argentine’s future.

Pressure is mounting on the 51-year-old manager following his team’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.

Pochettino signed a two-year contract last summer, with the option of a third.

However, there are now significant doubts over whether Chelsea are prepared to continue the partnership ahead of the climax of the season.

There was no knee-jerk reaction to the defeat at Wembley despite the disappointment, especially after the Anfield team finished the match with a host of academy players on the pitch.

Pressure has increased on Pochettino after Chelsea suffered defeat in the Carabao Cup final

Qualifying for Europe is emerging as a key factor in determining Pochettino’s future

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The recent improvement in results before Sunday’s defeat, in which the club took nine points from a possible 12 (including a draw against Manchester City), has given reason for optimism.

But Pochettino now faces a series of crucial games that are likely to determine his long-term future at Stamford Bridge, with club officials desperate to play in Europe next season.

Given their poor form in the league, the FA Cup may provide Pochettino with his best route into UEFA competition next season.

Chelsea will face Leeds in the fifth round on Wednesday night. Failure to progress would only increase the pressure on the former Tottenham manager.

The ‘blues’ want to reach the end of the season before reviewing their managerial role.

Interestingly, sources close to Chelsea ownership have indicated that the club has already started looking at potential candidates to replace Pochettino should they part ways.

Chelsea have a long-standing interest in Ruben Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, but the Portuguese is expected to have high-profile options who can offer him European football next season.

Chelsea have a long-standing interest in Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim

Indeed, there are doubts within European football circles about the influence Chelsea will have in appointing a senior manager given their problems should Pochettino leave.

For now, however, Chelsea have no immediate plans to part ways with Pochettino mid-season, but a drop in results could still prompt a rethink.

Chelsea hoped the win at Wembley would have represented a tangible marker of improvement under Pochettino.

It is understood that the connection between manager and fans will be a factor in the review planned for the summer.

Pochettino’s relationship with the club’s American owners came to the fore over the weekend after the Argentine appeared to snub co-owner Todd Boehly at Wembley.

However, Mail Sport understands that Pochettino had no intention of ignoring the American businessman, especially in front of television cameras with millions of people watching the final from all over the world.

Similarly, Pochettino’s post-match comments in which he seemed to suggest he sent his team into extra time to play out penalties did not have the intended meaning.

Mail Sport understands Pochettino had no intention of ignoring Todd Boehly at Wembley

The Chelsea manager had tried to suggest that his team was unconsciously playing to the penalty shoot-out.

“Some players like (Conor) Gallagher or Chilly (Ben Chilwell) started to feel very tired and we used different players to help, the team started to feel that maybe penalties would be good for us,” he said after the match.

But it is understood Pochettino was trying to suggest his team was tired and unconsciously playing towards a penalty shoot-out.