Leicester backed to make Pochettino approach despite ‘potential step back’ for ex-PSG boss

Leicester City should make an ambitious approach for ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino, according to Darren Ambrose.

Foxes manager Brendan Rodgers is under a severe amount of pressure with his side winless and bottom of the Premier League seven games into 2022/23.

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Many fans and pundits believe it is time for a change at the King Power, with Brentford’s Thomas Frank one of the names rumoured to be on Leicester’s shortlist.

Pochettino is currently out of work and has been linked with the OGC Nice job this week.

While Nice have European football this season, the prospect of Pochettino being open to taking that job is a good sign for Leicester, who are probably a more attractive club to manage, with all due respect.

However, the idea of the former Tottenham boss going from working for PSG and being linked with Manchester United and Chelsea to managing Leicester, who are languishing at the bottom of the Premier League is an interesting one.

Ambrose thinks it is “potentially” a step back for Pochettino to go from the Parisiens to Leicester, but doesn’t think the Foxes are “too small” for the Argentine.

“I don’t think Leicester’s too small for Pochettino,” Ambrose told talkSPORT. “Okay, he’s gone from Southampton to Spurs to PSG; would Leicester look like a step back? Potentially.

“But he’s doing nothing at the moment and Chelsea needed a manager a couple of weeks ago, they went for Graham Potter. Manchester United needed a manager, they went for Ten Hag, they didn’t go for Pochettino.

“Why not go for someone like that when you’re someone like Leicester?”

Ambrose continued: “Money’s going to be an issue, I understand that. It’s going to cost an awful lot to get rid of Brendan Rodgers and then an awful lot to get Mauricio Pochettino.

“So that’s the question mark and that’s probably the question mark as to why they’ve not got rid of Brendan Rodgers yet, because I’m led to believe £10million maybe it will cost to get rid of him.

“And if they’re struggling financially as we think they are, they can’t afford to do that yet.”

On why Leicester are struggling under Rodgers this season, Ambrose said: “Confidence. Or lack of it. If you look at the team they’ve got, it’s a good team, it’s a good squad.

“They are conceding way too many goals, we know that. 22 goals conceded is the most in Premier League history after seven games. That is solely down to confidence.

“Sometimes the manager doesn’t have to take full responsibility, I think the players have to take some responsibility. James Maddison said exactly this. He questioned the players as well.

He added: “They are a victim of their own success. But this can’t continue for a side like Leicester.

“I personally don’t think they’ll go down. I don’t think they’ll be in a relegation battle come the end of the season. I think they’ll probably finish top half.”