Welcome Mauricio Pochettino

[Strike 7,474]

16 hours ago, TheHulk said:

 

We are not getting the same Tuchel if we get him back - personally and professionally. He was way more motivated and squeezed what he could out of the 2021 squad. We need fresh thinking - someone who's modern with their tactics and thinking, and is able to work with the profile of the squad we have got. 

[Vytis33 1,261]

We're in a bit of purgatory right now with Poch.  Win a game let's see what happens or lose and it's Poch out

[Vytis33 1,261]

These comments are so bizarre to me.  Different Chelsea as in 10th place is acceptable?

 

 

[Vesper 30,083]

Mauricio Pochettino organises barbecue to help young side settle: ‘Players learn what it means to play for Chelsea’

https://theathletic.com/5344824/2024/03/15/mauricio-pochettino-Chelsea-young-pressure/

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino admits some of his players are finding it difficult to handle the expectations of playing for such a big club.

Pochettino’s squad is now one of the youngest in the Premier League after a huge overhaul of the squad since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium took over in 2022.

A reminder of just how many changes there has been in a short time will come on Sunday in their FA Cup Quarter Final against Leicester City. Out of the current group, only Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Reece James were in the squad which lost to the same opponents in the final three years ago (Trevoh Chalobah was on loan at Lorient).

Pochettino, who revealed some of the team struggled to sleep before the Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool last month, said: “One thing we cannot change is to give time to the players to get experience and be more mature.

“You ask me about Cole Palmer — not all the players have the same process in settling at the club or to perform. We are in a process that of course the main group, the main young players…they struggle a little bit to deal with the pressure to play for Chelsea. That is the thing we are of course aware of and we are focusing on trying to help them in all the areas.”

Pochettino has organised a number of team bonding events since taking over to assist with this. Another one was arranged on Friday afternoon with 120-130 people, including the players and coaching staff, attending a barbecue at the club’s training ground.

With the game taking place against Leicester less than 48 hours later, Pochettino revealed that what was consumed is strictly monitored.

He explained: “There are two nutritionists who will control what they are going to eat. We drink water, orange juice, no alcohol. We do not eat too much, (we) eat protein, green salad, no fries.

“The idea is to share (time/conversations) between the players and the staff. The players learn to understand what it means to play for Chelsea.

“Of course having a barbecue doesn’t mean that afterwards we are going to score goals but of course it is about communication, feeling better. Like it is not only a training ground where you come to work, it’s home and we want to create a good feeling between everyone. To get people to fight for the same thing — to win.”

[Vesper 30,083]

Mauricio Pochettino to support Raheem Sterling after England omission: ‘Football is like this’

https://theathletic.com/5344426/2024/03/15/raheem-sterling-mauricio-pochettino-Chelsea-england/

Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino admits there is nothing he can say to Raheem Sterling to help him cope with being omitted from the England squad again.

Sterling now looks set to be left out of England’s squad for the European Championships this summer having been arguably their best player when they reached the final three years ago.

The 29-year-old won the last of his 82 caps in England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in December 2022. He has not been selected by national team coach Gareth Southgate ever since.

Southgate has until June 7 to name his 23-man squad for the tournament, but the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month provides a major indication who Southgate will choose.

When asked by The Athletic if he is able to help Sterling cope with the disappointment, Pochettino said: “It’s difficult to talk because what am I going to tell him? All we can do is support him and try to help him to perform here. It is not our decision.

“Of course he needs to perform well to convince Gareth but what I tell him is no consolation, (nothing I can say) can make him happy. Nothing. Football is like this.”

GO DEEPER

Chelsea are still to see the best of Raheem Sterling - he is determined to put that right

Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell has received a call-up, just one week after having to see a specialist about a knee injury he sustained at Brentford.

The problem is not as bad as first feared and he is in contention to start Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Leicester City on Sunday.

Pochettino added: “He is fit and back in training. Everything is going well and he will be in the squad for Sunday.

“We didn’t talk this morning about that (England) because we were talking about us, about Chelsea. But of course when a player comes back from injury and starts to feel fit, gets a call up to England, they are excited for sure.”

GO DEEPER

Chilwell to see specialist about fresh knee injury

[Blue Armour 4,436]

I've held off on criticizing him plenty of times,  given the clownshow of a squad assembly over the past 2 years, but the one thing I can't stand is how he keeps moaning about how the fans are too critical of the team.

Sterling was downright terrible today, and again he tries to moan about the fans being too harsh instead of telling Sterling to man up and come back stronger.

This constant us vs the fans mentality he fosters can only contribute to a negative dressing room atmosphere. Great job. Especially with such a young group of players.

[NikkiCFC 8,286]

League Cup: 3rd round - final

Fa Cup: 3rd round - semi final (at least)

Premier League: 12th place with 44 points - now we have 39 points with 11 games to play. At worst he will improve us 10 point from last season but I think we have a good chance to finish close to 60. 7th or 8th place realistically.

Attack much better than last season. Already scored 9 goals more with 11 games to play so in the end 20-25 more goals in the league. Defense is the problem but that should be fixed next season. Must be priority. 

So when the board analyze him they will see improvement all over. Not to mention such a young squad so it takes time and patience. I think one more season for sure but we really have talented squad.

Petrovic, Gusto, Palmer are the real deal. Enzo as well. Gallagher such a valuable player. Now we need to be patient with other guys like Colwill, Lavia, Carney, Mudryk, Madueke. I am growing on Jackson lately.

James and Chilwell were world class but injured all the time. Fofana is coming back, still have hope in him, and Nkunku we know what he can do.

Get rid of Sanchez, Disasi, Chalobah, Sterling... Caicedo does not look good but will be given more time for sure. Poch is probably not a guy for trophies but this squad is not as well. We actually need someone like him for lets say 3 seasons to bruise young players and improvement will come. After that we can take someone to take us to next level. Someone who is real winner.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2024 by NikkiCFC

[Mário César 1,232]

16 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

League Cup: 3rd round - final

Fa Cup: 3rd round - semi final (at least)

Premier League: 12th place with 44 points - now we have 39 points with 11 games to play. At worst he will improve us 10 point from last season but I think we have a good chance to finish close to 60. 7th or 8th place realistically.

Attack much better than last season. Already scored 9 goals more with 11 games to play so in the end 20-25 more goals in the league. Defense is the problem but that should be fixed next season. Must be priority. 

So when the board analyze him they will see improvement all over. Not to mention such a young squad so it takes time and patience. I think one more season for sure but we really have talented squad.

Petrovic, Gusto, Palmer are the real deal. Enzo as well. Gallagher such a valuable player. Now we need to be patient with other guys like Colwill, Lavia, Carney, Mudryk, Madueke. I am growing on Jackson lately.

James and Chilwell were world class but injured all the time. Fofana is coming back, still have hope in him, and Nkunku we know what he can do.

Get rid of Sanchez, Disasi, Chalobah, Sterling... Caicedo does not look good but will be given more time for sure. Poch is probably not a guy for trophies but this squad is not as well. We actually need someone like him for lets say 3 seasons to bruise young players and improvement will come. After that we can take someone to take us to next level. Someone who is real winner.

 

 

 

 

Our recent form has been decent.

Our problem eaa the beginning of the season and not the last few weeks

[Blue Armour 4,436]

1 hour ago, Mário César said:

Our recent form has been decent.

Our problem eaa the beginning of the season and not the last few weeks

I don't quite agree. We had good spells in the first half of the season., especially around the time we were playing matches against City and Arsenal at the Bridge 

It's only a matter of time before the form goes downhill again.

This team's form will always be up and down this season. Classic midtable form.

Maybe upper midtable at best. That's why 8th place is still attainable.

[Mário César 1,232]

5 minutes ago, Blue Armour said:

I don't quite agree. We had good spells in the first half of the season., especially around the time we were playing matches against City and Arsenal at the Bridge 

It's only a matter of time before the form goes downhill again.

This team's form will always be up and down this season. Classic midtable form.

Maybe upper midtable at best. That's why 8th place is still attainable.

nottm and villa home and newcastle away were terribles performances 

I think our team is a top7 team or in maximus a top6 team

we need a winger the same level as palmer to upgrade our quality and a decent center back

[milka 3,390]

We are nowhere near to be a  top 6 team . We are a build to be a  tournament team that can surprise even itself in one match, but nothing more we don't have expirience , leadership , DNA to challenge  someone in  PL . But even as a tournament team we have a manager who loses the crucial games and the finals.  Without proven players in the squad, these players will always be inconsistent . But obviously nothing will change they will buy another kids in the summer to continue this kindergarten farming module .

[Mário César 1,232]

3 minutes ago, milka said:

We are nowhere near to be a  top 6 team . We are a build to be a  tournament team that can surprise even itself in one match, but nothing more we don't have expirience , leadership , DNA to challenge  someone in  PL . But even as a tournament team we have a manager who loses the crucial games and the finals.  Without proven players in the squad, these players will always be inconsistent . But obviously nothing will change they will buy another kids in the summer to continue this kindergarten farming module .

lets see how the season ending 

but if they continue to buy kids and nothing more we are finished