Mauricio Pochettino wants to change Chelsea’s image and help them shed their reputation for chaos. Pochettino opens his reign by hosting Liverpool on Sunday and he is impressed with how long Jürgen Klopp has had to build at Anfield.
Klopp has been at Liverpool for almost eight years but did not win a trophy until his fourth season at the club. Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have employed five managers since last summer’s takeover and the impression is that Pochettino has entered an unstable environment.
“If that is the impression on social media, with the fans or people outside Chelsea then we need to change that,” the Argentinian said. “Always my impression of Chelsea from outside was a club with the capacity to win, with a fanbase and a history.
“Manchester City have appeared in the last few years, or Liverpool. But we talked about Chelsea more than Manchester United in the last 10 or 15 years winning Premier Leagues and European Cups. That was my vision but of course when what happened happened it was a difficult situation.
“When change is big people need time to settle at a big club like Chelsea. Now it is about working to create a different vision and for the people to trust in the club again. To get the results and try to play good football for the fans because we are selling entertainment and they come here to enjoy the team.”
Along with praising Klopp, Pochettino pointed to Arsenal trusting Mikel Arteta and City growing under Pep Guardiola. The former Tottenham manager was asked whether Chelsea, who have struggled since last year’s takeover by Boehly and Clearlake, needed more patience.
“We need to work, and then it is not my decision if Chelsea want to be in a similar situation like Liverpool or Arsenal or Manchester City now,” he said. “We need to give our best and then if the owners and sporting directors are happy with us everyone is happy. But it is not my decision. I celebrate when you see coaches like Arteta, Klopp and Pep have very good runs.”
