(Reuters) – According to Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, sometimes tough love is necessary for the development and improvement of the club’s young players. After a promising period with wins over Tottenham Hotspur and a draw against Manchester City, Chelsea’s form took a hit with a 4-1 loss to Newcastle United, leaving them in 10th place with 16 points. Pochettino criticized his team, labeling it as their worst game of the season.
When asked about his comments, Pochettino explained to reporters, “It’s important the players feel the coaches in a natural way when we’re angry and when we’re happy we’re happy.”
He further emphasized the necessity of being tough at times to help the team learn and also highlighted the importance of being supportive when needed. He stressed that the ultimate goal is to help the players improve and achieve the desired results.
In their upcoming game, Chelsea will face Brighton & Hove Albion, who recently secured a spot in the Europa League last 16. Pochettino commended Brighton’s manager, Roberto de Zerbi, and his team for their outstanding performance. He acknowledged their strengths and expressed confidence in their abilities.
Pochettino mentioned that the availability of forward Christopher Nkunku for the Sunday game is uncertain, and midfielder Romeo Lavia will not be able to play. Nkunku has been sidelined with a knee injury since the pre-season, while Lavia has been dealing with an ankle issue.
The manager stated, “I don’t believe we can recover any (injured) player but still there’s one day more and we’ll see what’s going on tomorrow and if we can have some players available.”
He added that a decision on Nkunku and Lavia’s involvement in the game will be made after an assessment, with Lavia being the more challenging case. Pochettino aims to evaluate their condition and make a decision based on their fitness.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
