Mauricio Pochettino: Chelsea Boss Slams Players After Record Defeat to Arsenal

Mauricio Pochettino: Chelsea Boss Slams Players After Record Defeat to Arsenal

Elijah Odetokun
April 24, 2024 at 7:09 AM
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  • Arsenal recorded their biggest win over Chelsea with a 5-0 scoreline
  • It was a crucial victory for Mikel Arteta's team in their title quest
  • Mauricio Pochettino has pointed out where his team lost the game

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Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has pointed out what went wrong for his team in the 5-0 loss to Arsenal and appeared to suggest that the players were at fault.

The Premier League title challengers made a mess of their local rivals in a game that looked destined for doom for the visiting side based on their team's setup.

Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea, Arsenal, Emirates Stadium, Premier League, London, England.
Mauricio Pochettino looks dejected during Chelsea's 5-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on April 23, 2024. Photo by Marc Atkins.
Source: Getty Images

Per Opta, it was the Blues' heaviest defeat against their rivals in all competitions in history and their biggest London derby loss since the 6-0 loss to Queens Park Rangers in 1986.

Pochettino slams Chelsea players

The fans had a united voice from the moment the lineup was put out an hour before the game, as they were confident their team would be torn apart embarrassingly.

Pochettino apparently deflated, spoke to Chelsea TV after the match, explained what happened from his view, and pointed to the player's part in the mess.

“I'm really disappointed because of the way we started the game. It should never have happened. We started so soft and sloppy. We didn't compete from the beginning. We conceded a goal, and maybe we were still in the game and created some chances,” he said.
“In the second half, we started the same way as the first. We conceded the second and third goals. I think the team gave up and started to lose faith in trying to work for the game, and of course, Arsenal, a Premier League title contender, damaged us after that.”

The Argentine's future hung in the balance after the season, but after yesterday's game, it is very unlikely he will be the team's manager next season.

Players who declined under Pochettino

Sports Brief analysed five Chelsea players who declined under Pochettino despite the former Tottenham Hotspur manager only being at the helm of affairs for less than a year.

The two notable examples are Enzo Fernandez and Benoit Badiashile, both of whom joined in January 2023 and had a strong start but are two of the worst players now.

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Elijah Odetokun
Elijah Odetokun is Reuters-trained journalist with three years of experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria, OmaSports and El Futbolero.