Unveiling Mauricio Pochettino: Chelsea's new manager vows to conquer as he places trust in ownership for success
New Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino addresses speculation surrounding England U21 defender Levi Colwill and the potential return of Romelu Lukaku, showcasing his faith in the club's owners Pochettino's half-hour long press conference highlights his extensive discussions with Colwill
Mauricio Pochettino expresses confidence in Chelsea's decision-makers and vows to strive for success in his inaugural season at Stamford Bridge. After splurging over £600m on transfers, Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier League last season under the stewardship of the consortium led by Todd Boehly.
However, Pochettino, the former manager of Tottenham, refrained from mentioning his previous club during his initial press conference. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism after engaging in discussions with the owners and co-sporting directors, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. Pochettino acknowledged that they provided him with an overview of various situations, including personal circumstances of players. The Argentine coach officially assumed his new position on Monday.
"I have faith in them. I told them, 'You have a better understanding than me, and starting from July 1, I will be more actively involved'."
There were reports indicating that Pochettino had requested assurances regarding his involvement in transfer decisions during negotiations prior to accepting the position as head coach at Chelsea, especially considering the tumultuous first year under the new owners.
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Pochettino has grand aspirations at Chelsea, saying, "I am confident and don't seek authority or include specific demands in my contract. What truly matters is proving to them that they can have faith in me. My aim is to persuade them that trust is the ultimate source of strength."
Chelsea are coming off their worst season in the history of the Premier League. During this summer, they have already let go of eight first-team players. However, Pochettino refuses to use this as an excuse as he begins his reign as the new manager.
Regarding his goals for the upcoming season, Pochettino stated, "My aim is to win. When you're at a club like Chelsea, discussions about simply doing a good job or performing well are not enough."
Poch has spoken with in-demand Colwill
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Levi Colwill has been a star for England's U21s in Romania
Levi Colwill has caught the attention of Liverpool and Brighton this summer following his impressive loan spell at the Amex Stadium last season. However, Chelsea is firm in their stance that he is not available for transfer and instead, they are keen to initiate discussions with the defender regarding a contract extension.
However, We have been informed that Colwill, who is currently representing England's U21s at the Euros, desires to have a conversation with Pochettino before engaging in discussions regarding a new agreement.
When questioned about whether he had conversed with Colwill and his fellow international teammate Noni Madueke regarding their roles for the upcoming season, Pochettino responded, "We had a conversation yesterday."
Both players have contributed to England's U21s reaching the final of the Euros. The team is set to face Spain in Georgia on Saturday.
"It's a challenging situation for me since it's Spain versus England, but I genuinely wish England all the best. I have had discussions with them regarding the upcoming season."
"We are waiting for them to be with the team. I think the day we fly to America, they will join us."
Will Lukaku return to Chelsea?
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Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku in action vs Fiorentina on April 1, 2023
Pochettino says he expects Chelsea's forgotten striker Romelu Lukaku to report back for pre-season next week.
After falling out of favor at Chelsea due to a controversial interview where he expressed his discontent under former head coach Thomas Tuchel, Lukaku spent the previous season on loan at Inter Milan. The striker, valued at £97.5m, desires to continue playing in Italy, although it remains uncertain if Inter possesses sufficient funds to satisfy Chelsea's requirements.
"He must return on July 12th and 13th in order to join the squad and kick off the pre-season. Upon arrival, all players are required to visit my office and extend their greetings. This is the expected behavior for any Chelsea player."
