16 January 2024 , 23:04
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Former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel has warned Mauricio Pochettino he should be facing the sack if results do not improve.
The Blues are languishing in ninth having endured a difficult first season since Pochettino was appointed manager. The Argentine boss benefitted from a summer of heavy spending from owner Todd Boehly.
But the American has little to show for his investment, though Pochettino's side are still in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. And Mikel believes it is time for Boehly to ramp the pressure up on Pochettino.
Though he has put his backing behind the former PSG manager, Mikel has highlighted the approach of Roman Abramovich as one Boehly should follow. The Russian was notoriously trigger-happy during his time as owner, with Mikel hinting Pochettino should also be at risk if he does not turn his side's form around.
"We've given them time now. it’s been half a year. Now it's time to win. In Chelsea there's no time. You have to win - that's our motto," Mikel told Sky Sports at The Best FIFA Football Awards in London.
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"If you don't win, Roman gets you out of the door and gets someone else. So I think that should be the new owner's way of thinking - you have to win. If you don't win, what's the point of being at Chelsea?
"The excuse of trying to review is done. So now we have to win games, play better, improve and try to compete. This year, knock it on the head now. Next year we need to be up there. We have to keep building the team. Everybody says we've spent a lot of money and we have.
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Blues owner Todd Boehly has been urged to consider Pochettino's position (Getty Images)"We've bought a lot of good players and they need time to improve, and get better as a team. I think Poch is a really good manager. He does really well with young players and with the team. We need a striker, a point-man who scores goals."
Pochettino led his side to a win over rivals Fulham on Saturday, thanks to Cole Palmer's first-half penalty. The Blues were forced to weather an onslaught from the Cottagers, though held on to secure a win Pochettino believes will prove key to his side's confidence.
"It's important for the team and the way we are building in this process. We need to feel confidence, trust, and also accept the criticism after we are beaten by Middlesbrough because we are Chelsea," he said.
"That is part of the process, part of our reality. The most important thing is we’re strong and we know the way we need to keep working. The players today were very professional and I was very happy with the first 30 minutes of the second half.
"I think that is the way we need to play with freedom and we linked very well. Then it was good to see this young team defend in the last 15 minutes in the way we did. We were fighting and doing everything to keep the three points.
"I think we played really good football for 30 minutes and should have scored another goal or two to kill the game. We defended well and I think it was good for us to suffer a little bit in the end as I think this type of game helps us grow and builds confidence."