Watching TV games healed Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino has revealed he spent the evening of his 52nd birthday watching football with his coaching staff as they sought to “heal” from Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Brentford.
The Argentinian opted for Valencia v Real Madrid and a glass of wine over time with his family, hours after his team were booed by their own supporters at the Gtech Stadium.
Chelsea’s faint hopes of qualifying for Europe are rapidly diminishing, ahead of tonight’s Premier League game at home to Newcastle.
The Blues’ only defeat in their last five games came after extra-time in the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool at the end of February, a run Pochettino has been keen to talk up. However, the draw with Brentford – earned via a late Axel Disasi goal after the home side had fought back from a goal down to lead 2-1 – left the manager in no mood for celebrating his birthday.
“Saturday after the Brentford game, the draw was like a defeat,” he said.
“My coaching staff were with me at home. We finished the day watching Valencia v Real Madrid, more football. We shared a glass of wine. But nothing exciting. Only watching football.
“I think that healed, watching more football. The last few days I watched the Champions League, the Championship, the Asian Champions League.”
After Newcastle comes an FA Cup quarter-final at home to Leicester next Sunday as the team chase down their last realistic hope of salvaging a bleak season.
Pochettino said: “The most important thing is Monday. I don’t want to think about Leicester.”