POCH TELLS HIS YOUNG GUNS TO UP THEIR GAME

Mauricio Pochettino has cracked the whip at Chelsea – warning his sleepwalking stars he will not tolerate “unacceptable” standards.

The Argentinian remains incensed by the lack of commitment and desire on display during recent away defeats at Newcastle and Manchester United – now he is demanding change.

Pochettino said: “We lay out the strategy. Then, if you are at Chelsea, one natural thing that you need to have is the fire. If not, we are going to struggle all season.

“We need to show that we care, that we are going to be ready to fight.”

Chelsea face Everton today and the

Merseysiders will not be short of spirit as their 10- point deduction has breathed new life into Sean Dyche’s determined side.

Remarkably, Everton would now be above Chelsea in the table had they not been punished for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules.

Meanwhile, Pochettino sees no excuse in the fact his side are statistically the third-youngest team in the Premier League as they must begin to find motivation from within.

Poch said: “We started really sloppily and too flat against Newcastle. Also against Manchester United. There can be a lack of understanding of concepts or a need to improve in our build-up or positioning. Those things can grow in time.

“But going there to run and to fight and to match them in our will – the areas you need to match all the teams – not doing that is unacceptable.

“But we need to approach it in a different way. We are talking about 19, 20, 21-year- olds with not too much experience in the Premier League.

“We always need to think about how we can af fect them and the consequences –and the consequences are the most important.”