CHELSEA boss Mauricio Pochettino says he has been pleased by the reaction of his squad to last week’s 4-1 drubbing at Newcastle.
The Blues went down to their heaviest defeat of the season in the north east and Poch didn’t pull any punches post-match, branding the players “soft”.
Cheslea entertain Brighton on Sunday desperate to end a woeful home league record which has seen them win just once in front of their own fans in the top flight this season.
And Pochettino is hoping the work put in on the training ground this week will pay off following the Newcastle debacle.
He said: “It has been a tough week for everyone, but I am happy because they have reacted really well. I was tougher with them inside than outside.
“We also have to blame ourselves because maybe our approach was wrong, and we have to take responsibility too.
“It was good to have the week to realise things we need to improve, to be more consistent, to be more mature, realise things we can’t afford in this process.
“I am very happy so far, even though it was really tough in training and meetings.
“Sometimes this type of situation helps a lot.”
Pochettino’s public rebuking of his side at St James’ Park was the first time he has really lost his rag in public since his summer appointment.
It may have raised a few eyebrows but the Argentine claimed he can’t pretend to be something he isn’t.
He explained: “They know very well how my mood was.
“I am not here acting, I am not going to show a face that I do not feel.
“When I am happy, I will show happy. When I’m not happy, I will show not happy.
“With the players it’s the same. We let down our club because it was our responsibility.
“We need to think like this.”
Pochettino added: “It’s not the coaching staff on one side and the players on another – it’s everyone together.
“It’s always about putting the context in the situation – and it’s important the players feel the coaches in a natural way, when we are angry or happy.”
The manager also pointed out he wasn’t above criticism for what happened last weekend, adding everyone must accept some responsibility.
Pochettino said: “Of course, we were tough in our analysis and tough is to tell the truth, to show the things we didn’t do.
“It’s not to blame just them, it’s about blaming everyone and ourselves first.
“Maybe our approach wasn’t right and that is about us paying attention and having a different approach in the future.
“We are a young team and sometimes maybe we have to be tough.
“Sometimes we may need to be nice – and we need to choose the way we are going to express ourselves and translate the ideas.
“I feel happy now because the week was good.
“But of course, I am not happy after the last game and we know really well we need to perform at the weekend and recover the points we lost against Newcastle.”
