Mauricio Pochettino has passionately defended his Chelsea team following their defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. The Argentine manager responded to criticism from Gary Neville, who labeled Chelsea as “billion-pound bottlejobs.” Pochettino clarified remarks he made about his team’s approach in extra time and expressed his belief that the criticism was not fair.
Pochettino acknowledged that Neville had tempered his criticism but felt that the flak that came his side’s way was not reflective of the game itself. He emphasized the need to put the situation into context and highlighted that Chelsea had been the better side for most of the match. Pochettino argued that if Chelsea had won within the 90 minutes, they would have been praised as geniuses.
The Chelsea manager also addressed the controversy surrounding his comments about his players having one eye on penalties during extra time. He clarified that he did not set up the team to go to penalties and that their intention was to win the game in regular or extra time. Pochettino explained that fatigue and injuries affected their performance in extra time, but they still tried to go for the win by introducing offensive players.
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Pochettino stood by his players and defended their performance. He acknowledged that playing for Chelsea comes with pressure and scrutiny, but he believes in his team and their ability to handle criticism. Pochettino emphasized that he accepted the challenge of managing Chelsea willingly and understands the expectations that come with it.
In conclusion, Mauricio Pochettino has passionately defended his Chelsea team after their defeat in the Carabao Cup final. He responded to Gary Neville’s criticism and clarified his remarks about his team’s approach in extra time. Pochettino stands by his players and believes in their ability to handle criticism. Despite the disappointment, he remains committed to the Chelsea project and accepts the pressure that comes with managing a team of their stature.