Chelsea side must show ‘consistency’ after rough 2023 – Pochettino،
LONDON — Mauricio Pochettino said it was important Chelsea put their difficult 2023 behind them and show “consistency” by securing a positive result against Luton Town on Saturday.
If Chelsea lose to Luton it would be their 24th defeat of the year – their longest since 1978 when they finished bottom of the old Division One and were relegated to the second tier at the end of the 1978-79 season .
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“Of course that's our goal: to be consistent and after the last six home games I think it was good because to make this series and then finish the year with a good result. [would be] be really nice,” Pochettino told reporters.
“During the season, we [have been] I struggle a bit with teams like Luton and of course that's the challenge for me. I'm happy to go and play there because it's going to be good for our young team, a good experience and now we know that if we want to win we have to fight, we have to give the best of ourselves and of course after playing. football which is in the way we know how to play. »
The 11,050-capacity Kenilworth Road ground in Luton, and its away fans' entrance which gives fans a glimpse into the neighboring gardens of local residents, has often seemed out of place compared to the palatial stadiums at which most Premier League clubs are used to it.
The home crowd, however, used the Spartan setting to their advantage, creating a great atmosphere which saw them beat Newcastle and draw against Liverpool.
I'm an old man, I'm a romantic. I love football and the past and this type of stadium. I think it reminds you of when I started playing, the old Wembley, the stadium that [felt] different,” said the Argentine coach.
“They don't have luxury to the extent that we recognize luxury today, but in this type of stadium you enjoy being there because it's history because [it’s] It's completely different and today we live in a different neighborhood, amazing in a stadium, but when you go there and you see and feel real football.”
Pochettino also revealed that midfielder Romeo Lavia was injured on his way back to his club after coming off the bench in the 58th minute of Chelsea's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
Lavia, who was signed by Chelsea in a deal worth an initial £53 million ($67.8 million) this summer, had not made a single appearance during the first halfway through the campaign after picking up an injury following his transfer from Southampton in the summer. .
“We must evaluate [Mykhailo] Mudryk and Romeo Lavia too – he felt something, a problem and we need to check but yeah, a little worried because I don't know if [when] “Watching the game you can understand that there was a change of position with Lavia at the end because he was struggling to run,” Pochettino said.
“I hope it's not a big problem and he can be with us again. The important players, they will recover but it will be a shame if we can't use them in the next games.”
A win on Saturday against Luton could lift Chelsea to ninth in the Premier League table while Rob Edwards' side, who are seeking their third consecutive win in the competition, could climb out of the relegation zone if they take all three points.
