Success ‘a matter of time’ – Chelsea boss Pochettino

LONDON — Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said it was “a matter of time” before his tenure at the club was successful and insisted he “knows how to win titles”.

Pochettino took over at Chelsea last summer and oversaw a squad overhaul that included 11 new signings, but positive results did not immediately follow with his side in 12th place in the Premier League and facing the possibility of remaining in the bottom half at Christmas.

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Asked at a press conference on Friday if managing Chelsea was frustrating, Pochettino replied: “No, it's incredible. I already know what it means to win titles. At Tottenham, everyone was telling me : 'win a title, win a title'. .' I won one in Paris [the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in 2022].

“We are suffering after five, six months, but it's a challenge. I think it's a very good thing for us, although I'm very upset. I feel really bad because we want to be in a different position but it is a challenge that we will never give up, we will fight.

“The challenge is huge but I really believe we can succeed, it's a question of time. Of course, that's the hardest thing in football, to keep believing when you don't get the results you want .

“We will succeed, for sure, you'll see. Maybe today you can say 'this guy is crazy,' but I'm not crazy. I know what I'm doing.”

Pochettino has confirmed that goalkeeper Robert Sánchez will be out for “a few weeks” with a knee injury. However, striker Christopher Nkunku could be on course to make his competitive debut after suffering a knee injury in pre-season.

Djordje Petrovic, who arrived this summer from Major League Soccer's New England Revolution, will replace him.

“He [Petrovic] arrived at Chelsea because we think he has great potential. Of course he is young and comes from another [type of] football in the United States. Now, after four or five months of working with us, it's time for him to step up his efforts.”

ESPN reported on Thursday that the club was prepared to sanction the departure of several players, including Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen and Noni Madueke, to help fund their January plans.