Pochettino Makes Bold Claim, Says ‘Not Necessary To Win Titles’

Following a lacklustre debut season with Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino declared that “winning titles” is not a prerequisite for being considered a “elite manager.”

The 51-year-old manager is yet to secure a trophy in English football but it seems that aspect is certainly not one of his concerns. With the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United already eliminated from the Carabao Cup, Chelsea stand a fair chance to lift their first trophy since the Club World Cup in February 2022.

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However, Pochettino expressed that his status as an elite manager is not solely dependent on winning titles, emphasizing the importance of being in the right club, at the right moment, with all the necessary elements to secure victories.

Addressing the press prior to the forthcoming quarterfinal matchup with Newcastle, Pochettino said: “You need to be in the right club, in the right moment, with all of the elements to win. To be an elite manager, it is not necessary to win titles. Many elite managers still didn’t win or are going to win or won. It’s important to analyse every single project and say you can progress or not or deliver the job everyone expects. It’s important, more than us, for the club because it’s going to be a boost in energy and I really believe in the project.”

However, Pochettino soon went on to contradict himself and asserted that the Carabao Cup remains an objective for the Blues, as it is his “desire to win” a trophy in England.

“For us at the beginning of the season, it was an objective. It is still. We want to go through,” he said. “For Newcastle also it is an important competition. We know we will be facing a good team, a Champions League team. I want to win a trophy here in England. It is important. My wish and my desire is to win. That is one of the competitions in which we are involved. It is important.”

Reece James had a new hamstring injury during his team’s 2-0 loss to Everton last weekend, and Pochettino disclosed that the club has not yet decided whether to send James for surgery. “You still have time to see. We will see and understand the alternatives and possibilities in the next days,” he said.

However, Pochettino did state that Christopher Nkunku might play later in the match because the manager believes the player has gained up to 20 minutes of playtime following his first-team training since last week.