Mauricio Pochettino has responded to talk of Jose Mourinho replacing him at Chelsea amid his “tough” debut season at the club.
A section of the Chelsea fans booed Pochettino at the Gtech Stadium last week during the club’s 2-2 draw against Brentford. The Argentine manager, though, has claimed that he still feels loved at Stamford Bridge while addressing rumours about Mourinho replacing him at the helm.
Speaking to reporters, the Blues boss said: “Today is a different project. It’s a different Chelsea. If you are going to judge us by analysing the situation and comparing it with the past of Chelsea, for sure, no one is going to succeed. The fans are not going to love another coach any more [than me]. It’s a new project, and people need to understand.”
When asked if he would consider resigning from his post, the manager promptly replied: “No, no, no. Why? Never.”
Mourinho has been without a job since his unceremonious sacking by AS Roma in January and there has been speculation over the Portuguese returning to Chelsea for a third stint.
When asked about the possibility of Mourinho replacing him as Chelsea boss manager, Pochettino said: “I respect Jose. He’s my friend and he was amazing for this club. Circumstances are circumstances. We need to keep pushing, believing in ourselves, and accepting all the things that come from the fans. Of course, I respect the fans.
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“You need to ask the players. If the players believe they’ll do better with another coach, I am the first to say: ‘Hey, they can go and talk with the owner and the sporting director’.”
The Argentina coach added: “Do you see me worried about this? No. Look, is attitude a problem? No. They [the players] are clever enough; you can see in the way they behave and everything that they are behind us. There is no doubt. I came here because I knew that it was going to be tough but also knew we were going to need time and belief.”
Pochettino’s side will be next seen in action in the Premier League on Monday as they host Newcastle United in a vital clash, and a win would take them to within one point of 10th place in the table.
