Chelsea take on Brighton on Wednesday night in their penultimate Premier League match of the 2023/24 season. The short trip to the Amex Stadium is absolutely crucial for the Blues as they look to qualify for Europe next season.
Pochettino has led his side to three straight Premier League victories and a win tomorrow would see him record four in a row for the first time during his time at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea boss will speak to the media this afternoon as he addresses the latest injury news, the return of Reece James and much more.
Recapping Pochettino
Here’s what he had to say after the comeback win over Forest on Saturday:
From what was said yesterday [Friday], are you perfectly happy where you are?
“I never said I am not happy. I never said that. I said maybe I am not happy, maybe I am happy. But it’s normal, the headline. Sometimes too much honesty when I’m talking but it’s not a problem.
“I have one year more on my contract. Like I said yesterday, I’m thinking always in long-term, thinking that it’s going to be for life here. We are professional, we try to win games. We are trying to make the owners happy and the staff. I am responsible for all of the staff at the training ground in Cobham. I try to make the players happy and the fans. That is my job. Easy [laughs]. So easy.”
Do you think Chelsea have turned a corner?
“You like to see all of the numbers and data. We were punished for the first 10 games, not because of our performances but because we were not clinical enough with the chances we created.
“In these first 10 games, to have between four and eight points more, I think today we would be in a completely different position. If you count the game we played against Tottenham [in November], that was number 10, we have played 26 games [since] and if you start to count from there I think we would be in the top four of five, for sure, with some very good performances.
Changes for Brighton
Has Raheem Sterling made a case to be in the starting lineup at Brighton on Wednesday? The 29-year-old scored a fantastic goal as he made an immediate impact off the bench to help turn the match at Nottingham Forest in Chelsea’s favour.
Reece James, too, made an instant impact as he put the ball on a plate for Nicolas Jackson to head in the winning goal for the Blues at the City Ground. But is he fit enough to start a match yet?
What to expect from Pochettino
More injury updates are sure to come after just six players were on the pre-match list for Nottingham Forest.
Will Reece James be available? Are Malo Gusto or Christopher Nkunku ready for a start?
From a European perspective, after he took to defending his position as manager last week – also hinting at a possible self-imposed exit – there could be some more chatter about his future too.
