Mauricio Pochettino’s presence on the pitch after Chelsea confirmed their status as the country’s sixth-best team was brief. Certainly it did not carry the feel of a manager bidding adieu.
He watched the departing Thiago Silva deliver a tearful speech to the supporters, waved at Mrs Pochettino in the West Stand, joked with Moises Caicedo about his spectacular strike from the halfway line, then disappeared down the tunnel before the lap of appreciation had begun.
Shame, really, as Pochettino would have been worthy of some recognition from the supporters for how Chelsea turned this season around to finish as high as sixth – a position which guarantees them European football when that seemed so unlikely earlier this year.
Which competition they will compete in, we cannot say for sure. If Manchester City win the FA Cup final, it will be the Europa League. If Manchester United win, the Europa Conference League awaits. Pochettino can only hope that is enough to save him when he is expected to meet with the owners this week to review the campaign.
The 52-year-old Argentine revealed after this match that he had dinner with Todd Boehly on Friday night in London, though he is hopeful that will not prove to be his last supper.
Thiago Silva was making his final appearances for Chelsea against Bournemouth
The Brazilian has decided to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, drawing a close to four successful years in west London
Blues fans honoured the veteran defender with a banner in the stands ahead of the fixture
‘It was a very nice dinner,’ Pochettino said of his date with Boehly. ‘But I don’t know about the rumours about the review.
‘My staff tomorrow are flying for their holidays. I am going to stay in London for a few more days. I am always open. My phone is going to be on.’
Pochettino spoke of his pride at how Chelsea’s players have improved in the second half of this season, losing only one of their last 15 Premier League matches.
Chelsea have made no secret of their ambitions being higher than sixth, however.
The ownership even penned a column in Sunday’s programme outlining how they do not want to settle for anything less than competing for the Premier League.
Whether Pochettino is the manager to fulfil that desire is a question they must now ask themselves.
Pochettino showed his kindness when, less than an hour before kick-off, he walked into the media room to present a plaque to Brian Pullman, the press steward who started working for Chelsea in 1968 but would walk into retirement after this final fixture.
As well as Brian, there was a fond farewell to Silva, with the supporters unveiling not one but two gigantic banners at either end of Stamford Bridge to show their appreciation for the 39-year-old Brazilian.
With Silva’s help, Chelsea took control of this contest from the start and Bournemouth were finally breached in the 17th minute.
The move started with Nicolas Jackson playing a pass in behind for Raheem Sterling, who was beaten to the ball as Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto rushed out of his box to clear.
Moises Caicedo got the Blues off to a brilliant start with a stunning long-range effort
The Colombian was mobbed by his team-mates after scoring his first Premier League goal for the Blues in spectacular fashion
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was unimpressed by what he saw from his team early on
Raheem Sterling marked his return to the starting XI with his eight league goal of the season
Caicedo picked up possession on the halfway line as the crowd urged him to shoot from 50 yards.
He did as told, scoring the furthest goal seen in the Premier League since Wayne Rooney for Everton against West Ham in November 2017.
Leading 1-0 at the break, a Premier League table for first halves this season would place Chelsea in the top four.
For second halves, they are closer to the relegation zone, and Bournemouth should have equalised through Enes Unal within two minutes of the restart.
Chelsea survived that scare then raced up the other end to make it 2-0 with Sterling, making his first start since March, driving at Max Aarons before shooting through the legs of Neto.
Yet one minute later, Bournemouth made it 2-1 when Unal’s strike saw Benoit Badiashile accidentally divert the ball beyond Djordje Petrovic.
How Bournemouth did not equalise in stoppage time, only they know. First, Dango Ouattara saw his shot saved by Petrovic.
The 29-year-old has endured a disappointing season at Stamford Bridge but was on form to double Chelsea’s advantage on Sunday
Bournemouth found a route back into the tie thanks to an own goal by Benoit Badiashile (left)
In a season of immense adversity, Mauricio Pochettino has guided Chelsea to a top-six finish
Then, Ryan Christie thought he was about to tap in the rebound when Conor Gallagher slid in to block. Then finally, Dominic Solanke blasted over the crossbar when the goal was gaping.
It was as if the Chelsea goal had a forcefield around it. The win was confirmed and now, we can only wait to discover if Pochettino will get to chance to take in those European evenings that he has now secured for this club.