We’ve Improved, And Now Close To UEL – Says Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino credited Chelsea’s late push towards European qualification as a well-deserved outcome for the club’s perseverance throughout a challenging season.

Following a 2-1 victory against Brighton on Wednesday, Pochettino’s team secured sixth place in the Premier League standings with one match remaining.

Cole Palmer broke the deadlock with his 22nd league goal of the season, a header in the 34th minute. Christopher Nkunku extended Chelsea’s lead with a goal in the 64th minute before Reece James received a red card for kicking Brighton’s Joao Pedro.

Despite Danny Welbeck pulling one back in stoppage time, Chelsea managed to maintain their lead and clinch a fourth successive league win, a feat not achieved since October 2022.

Following Newcastle’s 3-2 defeat at Manchester United in Wednesday’s match, Chelsea surpassed the Magpies in the standings.

To secure a spot in the next season’s Europa League, Chelsea simply needs to avoid losing against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, or if Newcastle, currently in seventh place, doesn’t win against Brentford.

However, Chelsea has the opportunity to secure fifth place by defeating Bournemouth and if Tottenham suffers a loss against Sheffield United.

It is an impressive recovery masterminded by Pochettino, who has faced criticism throughout his troubled first season in charge.

Amid calls for his sacking, Pochettino even hinted recently that he could quit at the end of the season and said it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he was dismissed by chairman Todd Boehly.

But the Argentine was in a more buoyant mood after Chelsea closed in on Europe, praising the club’s hierarchy for sticking with their plan.

“We have improved results and performances. We talked about patience and when you need to build something you need time but it always looks like an excuse at a big club,” he said. “The evolution of the team is there. We have kept working and being positive and to finish in a good way would be good for the club.”

Despite spending over £1 billion on new signings in their two-year reign, Boehly’s consortium has left Pochettino with a young squad, whose lack of experience has often been their downfall.

But Pochettino said the win at Brighton showed they are fighting for the club.

“The Premier League is the toughest in the world. Massive credit to the players, we fully deserved the victory. That’s why I’m so happy. It allows us to dream to play in Europe next season,” Pochettino said. “The three points puts us in a very good position in the table to attack the last game against Bournemouth for the possibility to be in Europe.”