Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino, in the aftermath of Wednesday’s thrilling triumph over Leeds United, asserted that branding the Blues as “bottlejobs” was unjustified. The term gained traction on social media after Gary Neville labeled Chelsea as “blue billion-pound bottlejobs” following their inability to defeat a youthful Liverpool side in the Carabao Cup final. Pochettino, disappointed with the critique, responded by securing a 3-2 victory with a 90th-minute winner in the FA Cup fifth-round clash against Leeds United.
Facing renewed pressure, Pochettino emphasized that the team’s brave performance contradicted Neville’s criticism. He defended the squad’s resilience, stating, “It is not fair to use this type of word for a team that is so brave.” Pochettino acknowledged that while the performance against Leeds might not have met expectations, it showcased the team’s character and determination.
Reflecting on the victory, Pochettino stated, “We needed this result. It wasn’t a great performance. We created too little because it is a team full of confidence – a very, very, very strong team.” Despite conceding early in the match, he commended the team’s character and viewed the win as a valuable learning experience.
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Looking ahead, Chelsea’s reward for their triumph is a quarter-final clash with Championship leaders Leicester City scheduled for March 16.