Exclusive insights: Chelsea boss Pochettino reveals his surprising attitude towards owners in the Stamford Bridge dressing room!

Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of Chelsea, expressed his fondness for the club's owners visiting the team's dressing room after matches at Stamford Bridge. Pochettino disclosed that Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, the co-owners, along with Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, the co-sporting directors, have been consistently making post-match appearances in the dressing room this season.

The Argentine owner visited the dressing room after Sunday's 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa. This loss adds up to Chelsea's poor start in the Premier League, with only one win in six games. Despite spending £1bn since May 2022, they currently sit 14th in the table. Pochettino expressed his preference for owner involvement ahead of Wednesday night's Carabao Cup third-round home match against Brighton.

Throughout my coaching career, which spans Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, and Paris Saint-Germain, I hold the belief that it is beneficial for the owner to visit the dressing room. The manner in which they engage with the players holds significant importance. A warm and respectful approach is always greatly appreciated.

After my press conference on Sunday [against Villa], they approached us as usual. They continued to do so for [the games against] Liverpool, Luton, and Nottingham Forest.

Paul, Laurence, Behdad, and occasionally Todd accompanied them, engaging in discussions and exchanging comments about the game after I fulfilled my media obligations.

I don't view it negatively. I always appreciate it when they share with us and greet the players. If they attend for a presentation or a different purpose, then it might be a different situation. However, I warmly welcome them as they are the owners of the club, and I believe they have the freedom to do as they please.

Pochettino also expressed his delight with the owners' behavior in the locker room.

Co-controlling owner Boehly faced severe criticism during the previous season for entering the dressing room and allegedly describing the team as "embarrassing" while addressing the players after the home loss against Brighton. However, Pochettino is confident that "they are aware of proper conduct."

When questioned about whether he addressed the players after Sunday's loss, Pochettino clarified that there wasn't a formal speech. However, he emphasized that he had extensive conversations with the team on both Monday and Tuesday. Pochettino firmly asserted that it was solely his responsibility to decide when a speech was necessary, which could also involve the players or the captain.

"It's not a job of the owner to come to the dressing room and to give a speech after the game, even when you win or lose. But they know very well how they need to behave."

Poch on Bruno exit: He didn't belong to my coaching staff

Image:

Bruno Saltor has departed Chelsea

Pochettino also addressed the exit of first-team coach Bruno Saltor.

Saltor joined the coaching staff at Stamford Bridge alongside Graham Potter. He assumed the role of caretaker manager for Chelsea when the previous manager from Brighton was dismissed after overseeing 31 matches. However, Saltor has recently departed from Chelsea as both parties agreed to terminate his contract, which still had two years remaining.

Pochettino said of the Spaniard's departure: "It was a decision between the club and Bruno.

"He didn't belong to my coaching staff and then it's the best decision for him and for the club."

Pochettino has yet to decide whether to bring in his own replacement.

Merson Says: Chelsea's cup tie is crucial - Pochettino is getting panicky

We' Paul Merson:

Chelsea is in greater need of the Carabao Cup compared to other teams. The cup match against Brighton on Wednesday night holds more significance for Chelsea than any of the remaining teams in the tournament.

In the previous rounds, Tottenham made a mistake by fielding a weakened team and subsequently getting eliminated. However, considering their current performance and the importance of qualifying for the Champions League, it is comprehensible why they chose to rest players now.

However, Chelsea's performance on the field has been abysmal. Despite having relatively easy fixtures, many other clubs would have gladly taken their position. Surprisingly, Newcastle, who faced tougher opponents such as Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Brighton, have accumulated four more points than Chelsea. At this critical juncture, the last thing Chelsea should do is get eliminated by Brighton in the cup.

Looking at Chelsea's upcoming fixtures is enough to make you worry. The next 10 games hold so much importance for their season that it leaves you breathless. It's a stretch where you can't predict when they will secure a victory in a football match.

Therefore, Wednesday's match carries immense significance. If they lose this one, it will mean they have only won three out of their last 24 games. One of those wins came against Luton, and their ability to secure another victory remains uncertain. Another win was against AFC Wimbledon in the cup, but they just managed to scrape through. Lastly, they defeated Bournemouth in the league last season, but it was only after Bournemouth had already secured enough points to avoid relegation.

Mauricio Pochettino's recent statement of "It's a process, you have to be patient" indicates a growing sense of anxiety. Even the manager himself does not believe that this was how things were intended to be. The fact that he is expressing concerns at this stage is indeed alarming. While it is hoped that Pochettino and his team will receive the necessary patience and time, it is impossible to dismiss the worries. Additionally, injuries have further complicated the situation.