17 September 2023 , 16:51
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Mauricio Pochettino has conceded that Chelsea fans have the right to show their frustration after his side was booed off following their draw with Bournemouth.
Pochettino's Blues proved to be toothless again up-front, with the visitors drawing a blank at the Vitality Stadium. It is a result that leaves them a lowly 14th in the Premier League table, having won just one of their opening five games of the season.
The response from those fans in the away end led vice-captain Ben Chilwell to hold up his hands apologetically towards them. Pochettino insisted he "didn't see" Chilwell's apology, but admitted that the supporters had reason to show their annoyance after another poor performance.
"I think the fans know if you invest the type of money, there is expectation. What I can tell the fans is the circumstance, I cannot change the reality. With all of the squad fit we can compete, we don't have all of the squad available, what can we do?" Pochettino said.
"For me, nothing to say, the fans can do this. Twelve injured today, three of four youngs guys, two keepers on the bench, I am going to cry, I am going to complain, to who? I have to accept this. That is the circumstance and we need to accept.
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"We have our opinion, our reality. I think we are doing good things, more than people can expect but I told you before the season, Chelsea is about the win. young players need to feel what it means to be a Chelsea player.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Did Chelsea deserve to be booed off against Bournemouth? Comment below.
Ben Chilwell apologised to Chelsea fans after his side were booed off the pitch against Bournemouth (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)"I can understand emotion, football is about emotion. The fans will help the team win. What can I do? If you said to me today we had all of our players and maybe we cannot win this game.
"Maybe I can tell you yes, we need to think in a different way but with the circumstance we cannot lie to people. This squad is new, we need to understand and feel what it is to be player of Chelsea. If you don't win it's normal you find different excuses."
It is not the start Pochettino wanted to his reign at Stamford Bridge, with his side struggling to create despite having shelled out more than £460million in the summer window. The draw on the south coast was more of the same, with the visitors again lacklustre.
Pochettino's side did have the better chances, with Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling hitting the woodwork. Levi Colwill also had a goal ruled out for offisde in the second-half, before Cole Palmer spurned a glorious chance at the death by shooting straight at Neto.
It was not a display of domination from Chelsea though, with Bournemouth also having chances to win the game. That left fans fuming, with Pochettino struggling to inspire his squad since taking charge in the summer.