Mauricio Pochettino: If you want a clown as Chelsea manager, go find a clown

Mauricio Pochettino is standing up for his passionate response to Chelsea’s incredible 4-3 comeback victory against Manchester United.

When Cole Palmer scored two goals in injury time during the second half – one in the 97th minute and another in the 101st minute – to complete a hat-trick and rescue Chelsea from what seemed like a certain loss, Pochettino couldn’t contain his excitement. He was spotted running around the field after Palmer’s last-minute goal, which marked the latest match-winning goal in Premier League history.

After the game, Pochettino spoke to reporters and defended his emotional display. Some people criticized him for not showing enough passion on the sidelines and for not connecting well with Chelsea supporters.

Pochettino explained that passion isn’t about acting crazy or doing silly things on the sidelines. Instead, he believes it’s about the team showing passion collectively on the field – all 11 players working hard, running, and trying their best to win.

He emphasized the importance of being calm, focused, and analytical as a coach during the game, but also acknowledged the need to show passion at the right moments, like he did after the match. He dismissed the idea that a coach needs to act like a clown on the sidelines to show passion, stating firmly, “We are one of the youngest teams in Europe and we need to be calm.”

Despite facing what seemed like a humiliating defeat, Pochettino believed Chelsea deserved to win. He felt they were the better team overall and that their last-minute goal was fair. He acknowledged that conceding goals was disappointing, especially in transition, but praised the team’s resilience and the emotional connection created between fans and players through the victory.

In the end, Pochettino saw the win as a turning point, a moment to build trust and momentum for the team. He described it as an emotional and must-win game, highlighting its significance for Chelsea’s season.