Mauricio Pochettino supports Raheem Sterling and believes Chelsea fans should have faith in his choices despite the boos.
Mauricio Pochettino, the Chelsea manager, has opened up about his uncertain future at the club, admitting that it is “not in my hands” and that it is up to the club to decide whether to trust him or not. Pochettino made these comments following Chelsea’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The match saw Chelsea continue their impressive record of reaching the final four of the FA Cup, with this being their sixth appearance in the last eight seasons. The victory came in dramatic fashion at Stamford Bridge, with Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer scoring to give Chelsea a 2-0 lead.
However, an own goal from Axel Disasi and a stunning strike from Stephy Mavididi brought Leicester level. The turning point of the match came when Callum Doyle was sent off for denying Chelsea a goalscoring opportunity as the last man. This allowed Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke to score beautiful goals and secure a home victory for Chelsea.
One of the talking points of the match was Raheem Sterling’s missed penalty. The 29-year-old saw his spot-kick saved by Jakub Stolarczyk, adding to his growing list of penalty failures. Pochettino defended Sterling’s decision to take the penalty, stating that he supports the decisions of his players on the pitch.
Despite the penalty miss and some missed chances, Pochettino emphasized his support for Sterling and called on the fans to do the same. He acknowledged that the fans have the right to express their emotions but urged them to trust him and the team as they continue to build and develop.
Sterling showed resilience by bouncing back from the penalty miss and providing an assist for Palmer’s goal. This marked his fourth goal contribution in five FA Cup games this season, highlighting his impact in the competition compared to his Premier League performances.
Overall, Pochettino’s comments reflect his determination to gain the trust and support of the Chelsea fans as he navigates the challenges and uncertainties of his future at the club.