Mauricio Pochettino reassures that he will not be stressed about Chelsea’s poor performance affecting his hair, as the embattled Blues manager urges people to keep things in perspective regarding their recent downturn.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team is set to visit Aston Villa for an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday, following two heavy defeats. Chelsea suffered a 4-1 loss to Liverpool and a 4-2 defeat against Wolves, leading to speculation about Pochettino’s future at the club. Despite significant investment in new players, the former Tottenham manager has been unable to turn things around for Chelsea. With the team currently in 11th place in the Premier League, a potential FA Cup exit at Villa would only increase the pressure. However, Mauricio Pochettino remains determined to find enjoyment in his role, even during challenging times.
“Football is my passion, not my job,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “Sometimes we say ‘job’ but it’s the wrong word. Football is entertainment.”
“Being coach, I need to keep a sense of why I am here. We cannot suffer because of business and other things. We need to be focused to play football.”
“To be focused in football, you need to feel free in your mind. You cannot be affected because of the stock in New York or Tokyo, or the weather or because the farm doesn’t grow.”
“That’s why I keep my hair like this, because I don’t suffer from things that I am not in charge of. I only suffer for football, to try to improve the players, to provide them a good platform to win games.”
“If there is no rain on my farm, you kill the business of my farm. That is a stress. You can lose your hair. But I cannot lose my hair because we’re not winning because the opponent was better than us.”
With 15 matches remaining in the league, Chelsea is currently only one position higher in the standings compared to last season. During the previous campaign, both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were dismissed, leading to Mauricio Pochettino eventually taking over at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino has stated that he has a positive relationship with Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, mentioning that he recently received a supportive message from the club’s leadership. In an effort to change their fortunes, Pochettino recently delivered an inspiring speech to his team as they prepare for a crucial series of matches, including the upcoming League Cup final against Liverpool.
“I told the players today in a meeting that I trust you more than ever. I’m going to support you more than ever,” he said.
“I’m not a normal boss. I’m the leader and I need to reflect with every single action that I really trust the players.”
“If they don’t perform it is my responsibility and the players’ responsibility always because they are on the pitch.”
“I trust we can turn the situation around and change the results.”
