Since taking charge of Chelsea last summer, Pochettino has struggled to elevate their performance to the top tier. The likes of Raheem Sterling and company find themselves in 12th place with 12 points from 10 matches.
Chelsea’s current dynamics differ significantly from their past. Under the leadership of Todd Boehly, there’s a focus on acquiring young, promising talents rather than high-priced superstars. However, this approach requires more time to bear fruit.
Yet, the club’s historical success demands a swift resurgence, a challenge that Pochettino recognizes.
“It’s hard to make a comparison (between Tottenham and Chelsea) because when I arrived (at Tottenham), we had lost (Luka) Modric and (Gareth Bale) a year earlier,” said Pochettino, as quoted by Mirror.
“They then recruited replacements and initiated a youth project that featured Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb, and Son Heung-min. Here (at Chelsea), the beginning is more difficult because with the young team, it’s harder to find a way to perform well.”
“These young players are expected to deliver quickly. At Spurs, we had experienced players, and we eventually decided to let them go. But the young ones had trained for 4-5 months to understand the existing system.”
“After a few months, players like Harry Kane began to shine. That’s why the circumstances are different and challenging to compare. However, Chelsea is an exciting project, and we will find a way to achieve good results,” Pochettino explained.
Pochettino previously managed Tottenham from 2014 to 2019, transforming the North London club into a prominent European team. Despite not securing silverware, they reached the Premier League runner-up spot, the English League Cup runner-up spot, and the UEFA Champions League runner-up position.
Pochettino will have a reunion as Chelsea visits Tottenham’s home ground on Tuesday (November 7, 2023) at 03:00 AM WIB.
