Mauricio Pochettino praised Chelsea’s late surge towards European qualification as a well-deserved outcome of the club’s patience during a challenging season. Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Brighton on Wednesday propelled them to sixth place in the Premier League with one match remaining. Cole Palmer opened the scoring with his 22nd league goal of the season in the 34th minute.
Christopher Nkunku extended Chelsea’s lead in the 64th minute before Reece James was shown a red card for a foul on Brighton’s Joao Pedro. Despite Danny Welbeck’s late goal for Brighton, Chelsea secured their fourth consecutive league win for the first time since October 2022.
With Newcastle’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United, Chelsea moved above them in the standings. Chelsea will secure a spot in next season’s Europa League by avoiding defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, or if Newcastle, in seventh place, fail to win against Brentford.
Chelsea could even finish fifth if they defeat Bournemouth and Tottenham lose to Sheffield United. Pochettino’s impressive turnaround has silenced critics who called for his dismissal during a challenging first season in charge.
He commended the club’s leadership for staying committed to their plan, stating, “It allows us to dream.” Pochettino emphasized the importance of patience and time in building a successful team, highlighting the team’s progress and positive attitude as they aim to finish the season on a high note.
Despite the substantial investment of over £1 billion in new signings during their two-year tenure, Boehly’s consortium has assembled a youthful squad under Pochettino’s leadership. The team’s lack of experience has proven to be a challenge on numerous occasions.
However, Pochettino expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance in the recent victory against Brighton, emphasizing their dedication to the club.
Acknowledging the competitiveness of the Premier League, Pochettino commended the players for their efforts and the well-deserved win. He expressed his happiness with the result, highlighting the team’s aspirations to compete in Europe next season.
With the crucial three points earned, Pochettino noted that the team is now in a favorable position in the league standings as they prepare for the upcoming match against Bournemouth, aiming to secure a spot in European competitions.