Mauricio Pochettino was spotted signing autographs and posing for selfies with fans after completing his first day of work as Chelsea boss at the club’s Cobham training base.
The new Chelsea manager will begin whipping his new squad into shape just a month after taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge.
He will be tasked with transforming the club’s fortunes following a poor campaign last year, when they finished 12th in the Premier League.
The former Tottenham manager was all smiles after his first day of work as he stopped to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans.
One lucky Chelsea fan posed for a picture with Pochettino, holding up the Blues’ home kit as the manager was sitting inside a grey van with the doors open.
Mauricio Pochettino stopped for pictures and autographs with Chelsea supporters
It happened as the Chelsea boss, along with his son, left the club’s Cobham training base
Pochettino was all-smiles after completing his first day of work at the club’s training facility
Pre-season gets underway for Chelsea this week in London before a trip to the US for more preparation for the new campaign, which starts on the weekend of August 13.
Pochettino’s men will play Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s Wrexham in the States on July 19 before facing Dortmund on August 3.
Chelsea will then host Liverpool on August 13 at Stamford Bridge in a tough Premier League opener for the ex-Tottenham boss.
Pochettino gave his first interview as Chelsea boss on Monday, in which he infuriated fans of his former club Tottenham by insisting the Blues were the ‘greatest team in England’.
He said: ‘In the last 10, 12, 15 years, Chelsea is the greatest team in England. I know very well the Premier League and what the culture of Chelsea means. I think our fans are excited to again be on the road of trying to win.
‘It is exciting for us and what we want is to bring the happiness again to this great football club.’
Pochettino completed his first day of work as Chelsea boss on Monday as pre-season began
The Argentine was seen meeting supporters and taking selfies as he left the Cobham training base
The club is looking to rebuild after a rocky first year under new owner Todd Boehly
Despite his positivity, Pochettino will be fully aware of the challenge he will have to turn things around at Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino will have plenty to sort if he is going to help the club get somewhere close to where they once were as a team.
Having already offloaded several major stars such as N’Golo Kante – who joined Saudi club Al-Ittihad – and Kai Havertz, who has moved to Arsenal in a £65m deal, ten players are still set to leave the club before the new campaign.
Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Cesar Azpilicueta, Romelu Lukaku, Ethan Ampadu, Trevoh Chalobah, Baba Rahman, Malang Sarr, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech are all expected to depart.
Homegrown star Mount is on the verge of completing his move to Manchester United, having arrived at the club to have his medical on Monday despite Pochettino’s wishes to work with the midfielder.
They have made signings in the form of Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal for around £32m, and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leizpig for £52m.
The former Tottenham manager greeted staff in a social media video before stepping inside the building on Monday
