Mauricio Pochettino insists his relationship with Chelsea’s ownership remains strong after the growing pressure on his position eased with a 3-2 win over Newcastle.
Nicolas Jackson, Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk were all on the scoresheet for the Blues in a chaotic Monday night affair at Stamford Bridge that showcased the best and worst of a young Blues team searching desperately for some consistency this season.
Chelsea had multiple chances to clear their lines before they were pegged back by Alexander Isak’s fine strike on the stroke of half-time, while they could not avoid a nervy finish to an otherwise impressive performance as Jacob Murphy’s superb effort made it a one-goal game in stoppage time.
However, inspired by man-of-the-match Palmer, the hosts held on for a valuable victory that saw them stay 11th but move within a point of Newcastle and eight adrift of the top six with a game in hand on most of the teams around them in the table as they look to keep alive their chances of qualifying for Europe next season through the Premier League.
It was also an important win personally for Pochettino after questions over his future were raised again this week after angry travelling Chelsea fans booed and chanted for him to leave the club during last week’s 2-2 west London derby draw at Brentford.
After the game, the Argentine said he had a good talk with Todd Boehly and insisted his relationship with Chelsea’s co-owner remains solid despite the team’s struggles in his first season in charge.
"Yes, he came with his son, and I think [fellow co-owner] Behdad [Eghbali],” Pochettino said when asked about Boehly following the win over Newcastle.
“All of the owners were there. Yes, it was a nice chat, only a few minutes because I needed to come for the interview and the press conference. Yes, it was good, the relationship is good.”
Pochettino also reiterated the need for fans to be calmer about the inevitable highs and lows of a young team in transition after their frustration at Brentford that also included criticism of the club hierarchy and calls for beloved ex-manager Jose Mourinho to return.
The former Tottenham boss also urged his side to become more mature after a defence playing together as a unit for the first time amid an injury nightmare made costly mistakes for both Newcastle goals that prevented a far more comfortable night’s work.
"I think we need to understand we are in Chelsea and of course when you are in a project that is completely different, some people can be confused,” Pochettino said, per football.london. “When people don't want to listen it is difficult, but we are trying to explain that we are in a different Chelsea, building something different and of course it is going to be tough.
"It's about believing, even when it is in a tough situation, a tough circumstance, like when we were playing in the [Carabao Cup] final for 120 minutes, after three days we play in the FA Cup and then against Brentford. In six days we play three very tough games and with all of the circumstances, nearly with the same team and the players were really tired.
"If that means we are a disaster, okay, but the most important thing is that it is not affecting us, it is not affecting the team. The team knew what they needed to do and we kept believing.
“I think win the game today, it is important for us and our fans to be a little bit more calm. If we don't win the next game then it is going to be again a problem, but that is Chelsea and the most important thing is to try and translate the reality.
"I don't want again to explain the situation but some problems don't exist. The problem is that the team needs to be more mature, the team needs to be more together.
“Today, the defensive line played together for the first time – Malo Gusto, Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella. They were good, yes, but we made some mistakes because of this situation that they didn't play together before.
"But that is not an excuse. That is a fact, that is a reality. The most important thing is to keep moving because we are not going to give up, be strong, and we all agree the fans are right to complain, of course, but we have no right to give up and say we don't believe. No, no, no, it's to show the character and to live with this type of situation and keep moving.
"Today was great to show the players fighting, performing, okay not maybe great, but yes of course caring about the team and in the end beating a team that last season was fighting for the Premier League, the top four and fighting in the Champions League. And this season have good players, it's not easy, Newcastle are a very good team. Good credit to the team and to everyone."
