Revolting fans pile the pressure on troubled Poch
Boss is target of abusive chants as Blues toil
AXEL DISASI’S late header secured the point but only after Chelsea’s supporters made one of their own, showing how much this mediocre present is making them long for their magnificent past.
First, they sang ‘Roman Abramovich’, the name of their ousted Russian overlord who gave them trophies galore. Then, ‘Boehly, you’re a c***’, taking aim at their American owner who can barely buy a win, let alone silverware.
Next, ‘Jose Mourinho’, their legendary manager who is out of work. Then finally, ‘F*** off Mauricio’, not the nicest words for Pochettino to hear on the day he turned 52. After the game he
conceded he was feeling the lack of love from the fans ‘I am not worried. We need to accept this relationship,’ Pochettino said. ‘Between the coach and the fans, you build your relationship through winning games, but at the moment we cannot match the expectation.
‘If we are not matching the expectation, am I going to ask for love? Normally in football you show your frustration with the coach, the people above. I will not ask for nothing. I will continue to work and try to change this perception and win games.
‘We now have one week to prepare for Newcastle. We need to manage some reality. We are working really hard to win games. The team is fighting.’
It was Brentford coming from behind to take a 2-1 lead through Yoane Wissa which inspired Chelsea’s fans into sing every song off the most hostile of hymn sheets. Disasi made sure of the draw in spite of that toxicity.
As he and his team-mates approached the away end at full-time, a young fan held up a sign. It read: ‘I don’t want your shirt!! I want you to fight for ours.’
Chelsea toiled to their FA Cup win over Leeds on Wednesday and this draw hardly helped in their pursuit of European qualification via the Premier League. Pochettino started a match with a back three for the first time in six months. He last tried this in a 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest on September 2.
Chelsea rarely looked in complete control here. It was scrappy from the start as they scuffed a series of half-chances. Brentford created their own opportunities, one volley by Ivan Toney needing blocking by Levi Colwill while Wissa sent a 25-yard curler narrowly wide of Djordje Petrovic’s goal. Petrovic was not worried about that attempt from Wissa, though there was a nervy glance towards referee Jarred Gillett when Brentford claimed he caught one ball outside of his box.
Gillett gave nothing, with the home support colourfully letting him know their thoughts.
Chelsea should have scored in the 30th minute when Enzo Fernandez played a nice pass in behind for Nicolas Jackson. He rounded Mark Flekken but the right-footer’s leftfooted attempt was so weak, Zanka had time to get back to clear his goal-line. Jackson made up for that mishap as Chelsea made it 1-0 in the 35th minute. Malo Gusto’s cross was perfect as the striker sprinted forwards to thunder his header beyond Flekken.
Brentford emerged for the second half looking like an entirely new team — energised and ready to rock Chelsea. In the 50th minute, they made it 1-1. Amid mayhem in the area, Sergio Reguilon snatched at a shot which landed kindly at the feet of Mads Roerslev, who tapped in while Disasi watched the ball roll by him.
That was criminal by Disasi, who then backed off Vitaly Janelt as he struck the post with Petrovic rooted. Chelsea had the chance to take the lead when Gusto rolled a perfect pass into the path of Cole Palmer. All he had to do was pick a corner to score but he fired wide.
How costly that turned out to be, as Brentford then took a 2-1 lead. There was a good advantage played by Gillett as Frank Onyeka inadvertently flicked the ball into the air. It was begging for an overhead kick and Wissa obliged, beating Petrovic brilliantly. That kickstarted the singalong from Chelsea’s supporters.
The team ignored this toxic atmosphere to make it 2-2, with Palmer’s cross headed home by Disasi. A draw will not do much to help ease the pressure on Pochettino, but it is certainly better than another defeat.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank took aim at home supporters who booed when their were trailing 1-0 at half-time. ‘Is that support?’ Frank said. ‘Brentford against Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world, we’re down 1-0. I can’t swear but what the... I’d like to speak to the fans who booed.’