Chelsea boss Pochettino insists he has owners’ full support

Mauricio Pochettino says he retains the full support of Chelsea owners despite mounting pressure following Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat to Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk scored the only goal in the 118th minute at Wembley to hand Jurgen Klopp his eighth major trophy at Liverpool in what he confirmed will be his final season in charge of the club.

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With both teams missing players due to injuries, Klopp was forced to field several academy graduates and finished the final with three teenagers on the pitch – the highest number in a European Cup final. League since 2007.

Yet after competing well for 90 minutes, Chelsea wilted in extra time to the point where Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville called the Blues “billion pound jobs” in reference to the £1 billion spent by co-owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since the competition ended. their repurchase in May 2022.

Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali and Boehly were both present during the defeat and when asked if he still felt the support of both men, Pochettino said Tuesday during a press conference: “Yes, yes, yes. They showed their support. And then after the match too, Todd sent a very nice message, yes.

“We were talking. I said hello to them when I saw them at the stadium and later in the night I met Behdad and yes, we talked.

“We were sharing opinions about the match. We were talking about the opportunity we missed to win a trophy because I think we played really well for 90 minutes and I think the team was really good.

“We created chances, we weren't clinical enough. That's what's happened since the start of the season, it's nothing new. We're looking forward to the next competition on Wednesday and then “Of course being in the Premier League trying to win every single game, trying to be as high as possible.”

Chelsea face Championship champions Leeds United in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday at Stamford Bridge but will do so without Christopher Nkunku after another injury setback for the £52m summer signing from RB Leipzig.

Nkunku has only started two games for Chelsea in all competitions after undergoing knee surgery following a problem suffered in pre-season. The 26-year-old striker was a 67th-minute substitute at Wembley and could now be ruled out for a further month.

“We have to see and evaluate every day but I think that at the moment, [he] “It’s maybe in three or four weeks, I hope not more,” Pochettino said.