Mauricio Pochettino pleads with fans to stick by struggling Chelsea

Oscar Sanders
5 February 2024

Mauricio Pochettino has pleaded with the fans to keep faith in the side after Chelsea were booed off at the end of Sunday's 4-2 defeat to Wolves.

The Argentinian, who apologised for the manner in which his team capitulated after taking the lead in the first half at Stamford Bridge, said his young side need backing if they are to turn around what until now has been another woeful Premier League season.

The Blues are 11th after losing to Gary O'Neil's side, with 10 defeats from their 23 league games.

Supporters responded by singing the name of former owner Roman Abramovich, and jeered Pochettino and his team off the field at half-time and again at the final whistle.

Matheus Cunha's hat-trick had earned Wolves their first win at Chelsea since 1979 and was well deserved, with the visitors the more inventive and clinical in possession while Pochettino's side suffered from a familiar lack of creativity.

Yet it was a perceived absence of fight that most angered supporters.

"We apologise to the fans," said Pochettino. "The perception is one thing, another is the reality. The perception is Chelsea should be in a different position, but for different circumstances we are not there. Maybe because we are not good enough. But what can we do?

"The most important thing now is to feel the responsibility. We need to accept that is the organisation and of course the players that we have.

"To understand the fans is really important. We want to apologise and feel sorry. We are disappointed like them, but until the end we need to fight all together. If we want good results in the future, we need to stay together. During 90 minutes, we need to try to work together.

"With the capacity, the fans will be right to criticise and be angry if the performance is not good. But it's important (to remember) the players are young. They need support."

Much of the fury was directed at Pochettino personally, the first clear sign of his tenure that backing for the manager is under strain.

"During the moment, it's not nice," he said. "But I think we have to move on. You need to convince the players, push them to never give up and be brave and to recover. It's the leader that needs to be there, to have the composure to push them.

"We can talk, but we are in the dugout. The players need to feel the confidence, to feel fresh to compete again.

"They feel the pressure and they need the help from the fans during 90 minutes. It's not to demand nothing. But it's easy to be outside watching. When the stress arrives, sometimes it's not easy. We need to be behind them."