Mauricio Pochettino says ‘fans have to trust in us’ after he was asked if he had to win over some Chelsea supporters because of his past with Tottenham Hotspur.
The previously popular Tottenham coach made it clear that it’s ‘impossible’ to build a relationship with the club’s supporters if you aren’t producing on the pitch and how he ‘doesn’t think of the past’, as he told ESPN.
Whilst Mauricio Pochettino didn’t directly swap the colours of Spurs for Chelsea, his decision to take to the Stamford Bridge dugout has still caused a stir.
On November 4, the 51-year-old will make a return to his old stomping ground, four years after he was sacked by Daniel Levy after guiding the club to a number of top-four finishes and the Champions League final.
When Levy booted out Antonio Conte towards the back end of last season, you could hear the Tottenham faithful chanting his name from the stands amid calls to bring him back.
It seems as though Levy didn’t knock on that door, but now that Pochettino is with Chelsea, he was asked if he has to win over his new fans because of his Tottenham past.
“I don’t think on the past,” said Pochettino. “I am looking forward to seeing the future. Fans need to trust in us. What I want is to build this confidence and this trust. Working hard and, of course, playing well and winning games.
“If not, then it’s impossible to build a good relationship if you not playing well or winning.”
What is success for Pochettino at Chelsea in his first season?
No European football will be an advantage for the Argentine, but in his first season, he has to get into the Champions League places.
If he can win a trophy to boot, then it will help his cause and stop the talk that he isn’t an elite manager.
Whilst Pochettino overachieved compared to what he had at Spurs, the fact of the matter is, he didn’t win a trophy and that was constantly thrown in his face and it won’t stop until he lifts some silverware on English soil.
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