Chelsea Manager Mauricio Pochettino Reveals Something Affecting Players Before Fulham Win
Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, has revealed that there was an incident that impacted his players shortly before their win over Fulham on Saturday. However, he refused to provide any further details about what exactly happened.
The Blues managed to secure a 1-0 victory over their west London rivals, bouncing back from their midweek Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Middlesbrough. This win marked their third consecutive Premier League victory.
Impact on the Game
The first half of the match saw few real chances, with the deadlock being broken in stoppage time when Raheem Sterling was brought down inside the box. Cole Palmer stepped up and successfully converted the resulting penalty.
Despite the win, Chelsea’s performance was not particularly convincing, especially in the first 45 minutes. Fulham had opportunities to level the score. Pochettino later revealed that something affected his team before the game, which may have contributed to their lackluster performance in the first half.
Pochettino’s Assessment
During the post-match press conference, Pochettino was asked if he was satisfied with his team’s performance. He admitted that the first half did not go as planned, stating, “Something happened before the game, but I’m not going to explain. But I think that affected the team a little bit [in the first half].” However, he praised their second-half performance and believed they played well for 30 minutes.
Pochettino acknowledged that failing to score more goals when the game was open allowed Fulham to create some late chances. He emphasized the importance of defending well and stated that such games help the team grow and build confidence in their work.
Mystery Incident
When pressed for more details about the incident before the game, Pochettino refused to elaborate, saying, “No, no, no, nothing. I think I was… no, nothing. Nothing, nothing, sorry.” He clarified that while something affected the team’s performance, it was not important for journalists or fans to know the specifics.
Conclusion
Despite the mystery surrounding the incident, Chelsea managed to secure a crucial victory over Fulham. Pochettino’s refusal to disclose further information has left fans and journalists curious about what exactly happened. However, the manager remains focused on the team’s growth and building confidence through their performances.
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