Following Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday, Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine former manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Paris St Germain, appealed to Chelsea fans to “believe in the process.”
Pochettino has taken up a substantial challenge at Stamford Bridge, aiming to reshape the identity of a lavishly-assembled team. The squad has been overhauled with the addition of eight players for approximately £325 million (equivalent to $414 million) since his arrival in the summer. This transformation comes in response to Chelsea’s 12th-place finish in the prior season.
Among the new recruits, Moises Caicedo, whose transfer fee from Brighton could potentially break the British record, made his debut as a substitute. However, his introduction encapsulated Chelsea’s struggles, as they remain with only one point from their opening two matches.
Caicedo’s hasty challenge inside the penalty area on Emerson during stoppage time allowed Lucas Paqueta to seal West Ham’s victory from the spot, solidifying Chelsea’s continued struggles. The team has won just one of their last 14 Premier League games and suffered four consecutive losses in London derbies.
Despite these difficulties, Pochettino remains composed, stating, “That’s football. Teams like ours require the right balance. Today, there were a few situations we didn’t manage well, resulting in conceding.”
He continued, “Overall, games like these are challenging to explain. Despite possessing the ball, creating opportunities, and potentially being the superior side, we ultimately lost.”
Chelsea dominated possession at the London Stadium, tallying 75 per cent, with 17 attempts on goal and 706 passes compared to West Ham’s 225. Yet, aside from a well-executed goal by Carney Chukwuemeka, Chelsea couldn’t convert their chances, with Enzo Fernandez, still the British record signing, missing a penalty that could have narrowed the score to 2-1.
“The frustration mounted when we missed the penalty. Despite playing well, the rewards eluded us,” expressed Pochettino, highlighting their need to stay committed to the process.
He concluded, “We’re disappointed, but this is only the beginning. We must trust in the process. I believe we will grow stronger and certainly become highly competitive.”
West Ham, on the other hand, celebrated an encouraging outcome, hinting at the possibility of avoiding a season marked by relegation concerns, which they encountered previously. Manager David Moyes commended his team’s determination, stating, “We persevered, showed resilience, and even with ten players, we persevered and secured another goal. We stuck together, executed the basics effectively, and secured the three points.”
