Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has acknowledged the importance of securing a victory against Brighton in the Premier League. The upcoming midweek clash could potentially shape the trajectory of Chelsea’s season.
A win against Brighton, followed by success on the final day, could see Chelsea qualify for either the Europa League or Europa Conference League next season. Pochettino emphasized the need for his team to remain strong mentally and truly believe in their ability to achieve European qualification.
During a press conference, Pochettino stated, “It is really important to remain strong, with the mentality and of course really believe we can get [European qualification]. It’s true that the last two games are going to be really tough. Tomorrow we play Brighton who are a very good team and it is going to be really tough to play. And then Bournemouth at home. But always the most important thing is to believe and the team is doing well in the second part of the season, or maybe the last 26 or 27 games we are doing really, really well.”
He continued, “We need to keep in this way. Trying to always do our best – compete and improving. It is going to be tough but I think we really believe we can compete well in the last two games and have the possibility to get to Europe. That would be amazing for us.”
When asked about how success should be judged, Pochettino responded, “I don’t know because I think people are talking a lot this season, many things. If you ask me after all the circumstances we were living in the last 10 months, to get to Europe would be a very good thing for us. But, like always, we are going to judge people because of the result, or we are going to judge people because of the process, put in all the circumstances we had. That is a difficult thing to judge.”
Pochettino also acknowledged the rich history of Chelsea, stating, “I don’t want to be repetitive but the history of Chelsea is too much. Even if we win the next two games, it is not going to be a successful season if we are talking about the history of Chelsea. With all the circumstances? It can be a very good season.”
In conclusion, Chelsea’s clash with Brighton holds significant importance for their season, and Pochettino is optimistic about their chances of securing European qualification. The manager emphasized the need for belief and improvement, while acknowledging the challenges ahead. Ultimately, Pochettino understands that success should be evaluated in light of the circumstances faced throughout the season.
