Mauricio Pochettino Reveals Why He Skipped Chelsea’s Lap of Appreciation
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Pochettino Explains Why He Missed Chelsea’s Post-Match Lap of Honor
Chelsea’s manager, Mauricio Pochettino, has shared why he didn’t join his players in their traditional lap of honor after their 2-1 victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.
The win secured Chelsea a spot in European football next season. After the match, veteran player Thiago Silva was celebrated by his teammates and addressed the fans. Silva is set to leave Chelsea this summer after four years with the club, returning to his former team, Fluminense in Brazil.
While the players and their families took a lap around the pitch to thank the fans, Pochettino was seen heading straight to the tunnel. This sparked some concerns about his connection with the fans.
When asked about it, Pochettino explained: “There was no time. It was Thiago Silva’s farewell, and when the players started thanking the fans, Adrian (Chelsea’s press officer) said, ‘You need to go inside.'”
He then joked, “Maybe now I’ll go and give a tour around the pitch.”
Reflecting on Chelsea’s strong finish to the season, Pochettino expressed his pride in the team. “I am happy for my staff and my players. They handled difficult circumstances well and worked hard to improve our performance. They deserve full credit.”
He added, “I am proud of the players. You could see that by how they came and hugged me, whether they played a lot, a little, or were injured. It was very, very nice. Sometimes we are tough on them, but we feel so proud.
