What Chelsea stars think of Mauricio Pochettino's exit: Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Benoit Badiashile go all in to back axed manager... but which big-name players have stayed silent?

A number of big-name Chelsea stars have remained silent following the news that Mauricio Pochettino will leave Stamford Bridge.

The Argentine left the club by 'mutual consent' after a single season in charge, having spent the last two days locked in talks with the club’s dissatisfied hierarchy.

Pochettino and Chelsea had enjoyed a much improved run of form towards the end of the campaign to finish sixth in the standings, but ultimately fell short of securing Champions League football, with the 52-year-old's contract cut short with a year left to run. 

A number of Chelsea stars, including Nicholas Jackson and the club's £115m British record signing Moises Caicedo, have appeared to express their discontent at the news.

However, just as many have remained quiet since the news, with one Chelsea player even liking a social media post stating that Pochettino's time at the club was up. 

The decision has left stars in shock, with the players' WhatsApp group reportedly in 'meltdown' over the news.  

One player who appeared to be incensed by the news was Jackson, who posted a picture of himself and his former manager simply captioned with two emojis of a man putting his face in his hands.

His second Instagram Story caption read: 'Love you coach. Wish we could stay together more (hand-over-face emoji). 

'But may God continue to bless you and your family. Thanks for the advices and support, you're a true lion and a fighter, wish you all the best (heart emoji).'

At times struggling for form - and prone to a hapless record of near-misses - Jackson ended the season with 17 goals across all competitions, surpassing club legend Didier Drogba's first-season record of 16 in 2004-05. Pochettino's support appeared to be crucial towards Jackson reaching the very respectable tally. 

Jackson has since appeared to delete his Instagram story.  

Caicedo also appeared to show regret over the club's decision as he posted a picture of himself shaking Pochettino's hand.

He wrote alongside the picture: 'Mister! It was a pleasure (tearful emoji). I wish you all the best for the future! What a person and what a coach (blue heart emoji).'

Reece James posted the longest tribute to Pochettino and his backroom staff, as the Chelsea captain wrote: 'Thank you for everything boss. We had an amazing relationship from the moment we met. 

'I never played as much as I would have hoped under you, which I am sorry for but also something I couldn’t control. 

'You believed in me and gave me a huge responsibility when many others doubted me. Also a special mention to the other staff that played a huge roll that not many others would see, Jesus Perez, Toni Jimenez, Miguel D’Agostino, Sebastiano Pochettino. Thank you all and good luck in the future!

Cole Palmer enjoyed a fantastic debut season at Chelsea under Pochettino, and also thanked the manager for 'making his dreams come true'. 

Noni Madueke was also very complimentary as he wrote: 'You taught me invaluable lessons both on and off the pitch.

'I will always be grateful. I wish you the best in the next chapter of your life.' 

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, whose season ended early with injury, wrote: 'Thank you for all this year and for every advice you've given me. It's been a spectacle to work by your side, I hope we cross paths in the future

Alfie Gilchrist thanked Pochettino for handing him his Chelsea debut this season, while Romeo Lavia, whose debut season at Stamford Bridge was plagued with injury, thanked the Argentine for his support.

Other players who thanked Pochettino, or wished him the best for the future, included Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk, Marc Cucurella, Benoit Badiashille, Trevoh Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka. 

Wesley Fofana, who didn't play a solitary game under Pochettino due to an ACL injury, did still post on his exit, with a broken heart emoji on his Instagram story.  

It wasn't all positive for Pochettino however, as one Chelsea star made it clear that they were happy with the news.    

Malang Sarr, the French centre back signed by Chelsea on a five-year contract in 2020, was spotted 'liking' the club's Instagram post about Pochettino's agreed departure on Tuesday.

Sarr, 25, has one year remaining on his £100,000-per-week deal at the club but has been exiled from the first team entirely by Pochettino after being deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Earlier this year The Athletic reported that Sarr no longer has a locker in the first-team building at Chelsea's Cobham training ground and gets changed to train with the Under 21s instead.

He has not been involved in matches for Under 21s and when they have games he trains alone or with other youth squads.

A source said: 'I have never seen him as low as this. This is the first time I have seen him like this. He tries to change his mental state, but it is hard when you are not playing. He is not in the first-team dressing room anymore, he is with the kids in the other building.

'He feels outside the group. He tries to hide his feelings, but I know him, what he is really feeling.

'He loved playing under Tuchel. But some of the closest friends he made, like N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount, have left. He goes to train because it is his job but I know he finds it very hard because any footballer who knows they are not going to play matches will find it difficult.'

A good number of players have remained silent to the news, not giving away their feelings on his exit, at least until the time of writing. 

The biggest names to not post a tribute include Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Christopher Nkunku.  

Others who didn't post a reaction to the news include Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Djordje Petrovic, Marcus Bettinelli, Lesley Ugochukwu, Deivid Washington, Diego Moreira and Cesare Casadei.