POCH BLASTS: I’M NOT STUPID
CHELSEA..4 LEICESTER..2
MAURICIO POCHETTINO told Chelsea fans: “I am not stupid” after he was booed during the rollercoaster FA Cup win over Leicester.
Blues supporters chanted “You don’t know what you’re doing” after the Argentine replaced Mykhailo Mudryk before woeful Raheem Sterling in the second half.
Pochettino then saw subs Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke score injury-time goals to take Chelsea into the semi-finals.
Asked about if he was concerned by the reaction of fans, the Blues boss insisted: “No, that is why I made the decision. I am not here to do what people want.
“Also I am not stupid. I saw Mudryk and we thought he would not finish the game. We are professionals and we want to win.
“But of course, I completely understand the situation but that doesn’t mean that we agree. They need to trust me to manage in the way I think is the best way for the club. I know really well how to manage.”
The replacement of Sterling, who missed a first-half penalty, was greeted by applause by some Chelsea fans.
“We need to accept the situation,” Pochettino added. “That doesn’t mean we agree or disagree. The fans are entitled to say what they want.
“Fans are entitled to show their emotion. We need to support him, he’s an amazing player. For us we try to emphasise with our fans not to criticise. They want the best for our team and players. But we’re in a project. We need support and to really believe.”
Chelsea, who now face the daunting challenge of Man City, took the lead in the 13th minute. Nicolas Jackson beat Jannik Vestergaard to cross for Marc Cucurella to tap in.
Sterling then won a penalty when he was upended by Abdul Fatawu.
Cole Palmer has scored all five of his penalties this season but Sterling took the ball and his weak side-footed shot was saved by the Jakub Stolarczyk’s legs.
Sterling then missed a clear chance when put through by Moises Caicedo. But the contest seemed to be over in first-half injury time when he made up for taking the ball off Palmer by giving him a neat pass for Chelsea’s second goal.
A comical own goal after 51 minutes from Axel Disasi – when his backpass bypassed Robert Sanchez – returned the jeopardy to the contest before Stephy Mavididi curled home the 62nd-minute equaliser.
Leicester boss Enzo Maresco identified the decisive moment as the red card to Callum Doyle in 71 minutes when referee Andrew Madley gave a penalty and showed a yellow card after a foul on Jackson.
A VAR review saw a freekick just outside the box – which was fluffed by Sterling – and a red.
Eight minutes of injury time saw Chukwuemeka finish after a neat Palmer flick before Madueke’s splendid finish.