Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino responds after fans call for Jose Mourinho
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has responded after fans chanted Jose Mourinho's name in the Blues' 2-2 draw at Brentford
![Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on during the Blues' 2-2 draw at Brentford in March 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fBXXaeEQLzoximKVayqeqL-810-80.jpg)
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has hit back after fans chanted the name of former boss Jose Mourinho in the Blues' 2-2 draw at Brentford on Saturday.
With Chelsea 2-1 behind in Saturday's Premier League clash in west London, a section of the travelling support chanted the name of the Portuguese, who led the club to three Premier League titles across two spells in charge at Stamford Bridge.
"I’ve been told [about the chants], I didn't hear to be honest, it's difficult for me to understand," Pochettino said after the match.
"But it's normal, we were losing the game 2-1 and they expressed their frustration. I am one of the ones responsible, I'm the coach."
The Argentine has endured a difficult tenure so far, with Chelsea in 11th place and having lost the Carabao Cup final to an experienced Liverpool side last weekend.
"I was asked before if I feel the love from the fans," Pochettino said. "No. I'm not worried – we need to accept this relationship. You win your relationship through winning games.
"I will continue to work and try to change this perception. We need to manage some reality. We are working really hard to try to win games, the team is fighting.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
“If it doesn't work and the fans are disappointed I need to respect their opinion. I think the relationship is good. If they did what they did, fans are emotional."
Pochettino, who was celebrating his birthday on Saturday, insists he is up for the fight.
"I am fighting with all my sense to try to provide a team to play in the best way to score goals and win games," he said. "Today is my 52nd birthday, I know this business, but I'm going to fight."
Mourinho, meanwhile, is currently out of work after he was sacked by Roma in January.
More Chelsea stories
Arsenal to move for €100m Chelsea flop Mykhaylo Mudryk, in shock transfer twist: report
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino hits back at Gary Neville's 'billion pound bottle jobs' jibe
Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.
![PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Miron Muslic, manager of Plymouth Argyle looks on prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Plymouth Argyle and Liverpool at Home Park on February 09, 2025 in Plymouth, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EVyWiYSfvJgUjtSYGQWYk8-840-80.jpg)
‘This is the biggest moment in my career - but the biggest is yet to come’: Plymouth Argyle transformed under Miron Muslic after FA Cup victory over Liverpool
![SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - March 2: Frank Clark Manager of Nottingham Forest on the side line during the Premier League match between Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough on March 2, 1996 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Graham Whitby Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) Manchester City](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bHjXaivUhFcGvRHymPAVDh-840-80.jpg)
‘It was a mistake to become Manchester City boss – I should have taken six months off. It wasn’t a very nice club at the time, and I didn’t do a particularly good job’: Former Premier League manager reflects on making wrong career decision