04 March 2024 , 06:00
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Mauricio Pochettino spent his 52nd birthday absorbing the fury of Chelsea fans but the head coach is willing to take the expletive-laden anger if it means his young players can perform with freedom.
When Brentford went 2-1 in front on Saturday, fans sang “F*** off, Mauricio” after singling out chairman Todd Boehly for even harsher abuse.
The anger of those who have become accustomed to success, and are perhaps struggling to accept the new reality, was mixed with songs of praise for Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho.
And while Axel Disasi headed in a late equaliser to salvage a point, the damage caused by Chelsea’s alarming wilt against Brentford’s physicality felt like another low.
“We cannot blame the fans,” Pochettino said. “My message is, OK, if they need to show their frustration I prefer it to be through me than the team. I’m strong and with time we’ll change the perception. But I don’t want the fans to blame the players. I prefer that I get the blame to let the players be free on the pitch. I don’t care, I’m strong enough. I’m 52 now.
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“The players don’t deserve it. They deserve credit and support from our fans. If someone needs to get the blame, it’s no problem. That’s why I’m the coach.”
The Chelsea supporters may have made up their mind about the former Tottenham manager but goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic insisted the dressing room remains united behind Pochettino.
“All of us believe in the manager and we’re all behind him,” he said, claiming that the pain of losing the Carabao Cup to Liverpool a weekend previous will be used as fuel for the rest of this ragged campaign. “The final was a learning experience because we are a young team and in the process,” he added. “It was a good lesson, a good school for us.
“For sure we’re better players now with more experience after the final. We will keep going, look forward to making better results in the Premier League and getting to a better place in the table.”
Chelsea remain in the bottom half but are only two wins from a Europa League spot and face Newcastle next Monday.
Mauricio Pochettino on the touchline during Chelsea's draw with Brentford (Getty)Yet questions abound over their identity - even if Pochettino has evidently settled on a core of players. He complained of his midfield pair, the £100m-plus plodders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicdeo, being tired after starting three matches in six days.
Except he only used two of his five substitutes as Brentford, who have taken just seven points from their past 13 games, assumed control on Saturday. There was a change of system, too, with a shift to 3-5-2 initially offering Chelsea some much-needed defensive solidity before chaos returned in the second half.
“There’s a balance,” Pochettino said of his selection. “Sometimes we don’t do many subs because we prefer to keep the structure of the team. We know better now the players and that’s why sometimes our decisions are completely different compared to when we came in.”
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