Mauricio Pochettino branded Chelsea’s loss to Newcastle United as the worst performance of the season
Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t having it this time and went full berk on Chelsea players after their embarrassing 4-1 capitulation to Newcastle United. The Argentine manager labelled their defeat to the Magpies as the worst game of the season as he watched his side concede four goals aimlessly.
The Blues entered this game hoping to win after a thrilling 4–4 draw with Manchester City, but their day turned worse with a sloppy mistake by Thiago Silva and a foolish red card to Reece James.
This certainly upset the Argentine manager, who was hoping his side would display another dominant display like they did against City, but it was just a side with a lack of clarity on the pitch.
They looked disorganised and conceded goals easily. Alexander Isak gave Tyneside the lead in the 13th minute before Raheem Sterling cancelled his goal.
But Newcastle bounced back in the second half when unmarked Jamaal Lascelles headed the ball home in the 60th minute, and later Silva’s sloppy pass saw Joelinton extend their lead by three goals.
It was Anthony Gordon who rubbed salt on Chelsea’s wound with a fourth goal as Newcastle embarrassed the West Londoners in their home game, and Pochettino didn’t hold back, (h/t BBC) and said:
“It was our worst game of the season. It was tough to be in the stands. We cannot complain about the result, we did not read the game from the beginning. We did not play how we should play, we showed a lack of intensity and energy. Even after we scored, at 1-1, it was a chance for us to force them to play deep, but it was so easy for Newcastle. That is why I am so upset with the performance.”
Even after a player’s performance, a manager will always stand by him when he believes they didn’t play to the level he is speaking of. However, Pochettino believed that this particular performance was the worst the team had ever put on since he became manager. Although we played well offensively, we made a lot of blunders that allowed us to concede goals as if we were brand new to the game.
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We cannot repeat such performances if we are to finish in the top four before the end of this season, so players should take responsibility for their actions and make corrections.