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Mauricio Pochettino expressed frustration and dissatisfaction while observing Chelsea’s collapse in their 4-1 loss to Newcastle in the Premier League.
The Argentinian was extremely angry about his team’s collapse in the second half at St James’ Park. This was made worse by full-back Reece James being sent off, erasing the positive performances they had against Tottenham and Manchester City before the international break.
Pochettino, who was observing the match from the director’s box due to a touchline suspension, expressed his worry by stating, “We did not adequately prepare ourselves to compete today.”
“We believed we were prepared to participate in today’s competition, but we did not meet the necessary standards required by the competition.”
“Despite Newcastle not being a strong team, today’s win was a straightforward preparation for the Champions League. Our match against Chelsea was an opportunity to demonstrate how challenging it will be for them to play against us and come out victorious.”
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It was surprisingly simple how we gave up and lacked resilience in every confrontation. We failed to demonstrate our determination towards something meaningful.
This situation frustrates and saddens me. We often discuss being a young team and needing to learn, but these games in particular anger me greatly because they reveal our individual personalities and character.
“We may be a young team, but we cannot afford to miss out on this chance to showcase our abilities.”
Thirteen players from Newcastle were absent, including midfielder Joe Willock who was added to the injured group due to a recurring Achilles injury.
However, in the 13th minute, the hosts were able to take the lead as Alexander Isak, who had been absent for a month, turned and scored off of a clever pass from 17-year-old Lewis Miley, beating Robert Sanchez.
During the first half, the visitors scored an equalizer thanks to a well-executed free-kick by Raheem Sterling. However, they were unable to maintain their lead as Lascelles and Joelinton scored two goals in just three minutes during the second half. A fourth goal was added by Anthony Gordon after James received a second booking.
Eddie Howe, the coach of Magpies, is now faced with the challenge of getting his team ready for their Champions League game against Paris St Germain on Tuesday. Despite the injuries his team has faced, Howe was pleased with the determination and strength shown by his players.
Howe stated that the victory was crucial for their current situation and limited resources.
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The ability to unite and deliver such a remarkable performance is a testament to the strong character of our players, the leadership within our group, and our capacity to stay focused on the present moment.
The players who were absent were not able to play, but the players who were able to play put on an outstanding performance.
Unfortunately, Howe’s pleasure was dampened by Willock’s bad luck, as both the player and his team are now awaiting a prognosis.
He stated that it appears to be a reoccurrence of the Achilles injury he experienced a few weeks ago. This is a significant setback for our team.
“We are unsure of the duration of his absence, so we will need to consult with specialists. This is a significant setback for us.”
Source: independent.co.uk
