Mauricio Pochettino questions mentality of Chelsea players: 'This is why we are not winning'
Mauricio Pochettino has questioned the meaning of “potential”, insisting his Chelsea side must “win today” as he admitted his players must improve their mentalities to do so.
The Argentine delivered a long monologue explaining some of his work behind the scenes after the disappointing 2-2 draw at home to 10-man Burnley on Saturday.
The result left Chelsea in 12th place in the Premier League, albeit with two games in hand on several teams above them, ahead of Manchester United’s visit to Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
Asked whether he fears his players may be too much in their comfort zone to compete, Pochettino said: “Yes. I agree. It was one of the subjects we were talking about.
“I am going to explain what I explained to them. When I was at Espanyol, my first experience as a coach, I was at the training ground at 7 o’clock every morning. Then when I moved to Southampton: 6.30. Then to Tottenham: 7, sometimes 7.30. Then PSG: the same, 6 in the morning. Now, again: 6.45, 6.40. You can ask the guy at security, go on, ask.
“After 15 years of working your salary increases but that cannot put me in a very comfortable zone to say: ‘Now I arrive at 9 o’clock and leave at 2 o’clock’. I need to keep pushing myself, to keep pushing my team and my coaching staff, because we want to win and want to be competitive.
“That question is true. If now because I move from another club – in another club I was playing for less money, for less expectation, no one is expecting anything from me – but now I arrive here and people really believe that I’m so good but now I feel the pressure, what do I need to do?
“It is to arrive early, it is too work more. It is to run more, it is to be more focused, concentrate. It is not now arrive to Chelsea – [slaps hands] – and I am so good because people believe that I am so good but I do the minimum effort. No, it is more responsibility now. For us [the staff], we feel the responsibility. That is why we try to deliver in this job.
“What you say is important. Never be in a comfort zone. If you in a comfort zone, you drop your level, you drop your standards. I don’t say that happened here because too many other things happened. But that is one of the things that we are aware of. Maybe it is a mix [of different issues].”
The Chelsea boss was also keen to explain what it takes to build a winning mentality, having endured a frustrating first season in charge of Chelsea.
Pochettino said: “The demand to win is completely different. The energy is different. To prepare yourself to win every single game you need to have experience, you need to be mature, you need to know yourself and all the people around you.
“That is why we are in the process to build something. That is why we are not winning in the way we expect. It is because we still need to create this mentality that is going to help us. You need to demand more from yourself and yourself team-mate. And then be strong.
“The example is the last game. I agree with you in all the criticism you can make of myself or the rest of team. But you know why? You cannot draw a game like this if you are Chelsea. You cannot draw. That is how I describe the situation and how I understand the game.
“Football is about talent, about players with [a mix of] talent and the right mentality. Mentality means you have the capacity to deal with the pressure and express your talent without limitation.
“It’s about translating the same feelings you had as a child to when you play for Chelsea, with 50,000 people there and the cameras, for relegation or to win the title.
“That is the capacity you have to identify in a player. You have to have this (head) and this (heart).”
He added: “We have to understand - what does it mean, potential?
“’I have potential’ - what does it mean? Potential what? We need to assess the players we have today and we can help them evolve but to what level?
“Potential teams, potential players, potential coaches. Potential, potential, potential. But we need to win today, no? Now I am teaching you.”