Mauricio Pochettino insisted he was "more relaxed than ever" after Chelsea's convincing win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on Wednesday.
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- Pochettino had come under fire for recent results
- But Chelsea responded in style against Villa
- Blues boss says he is "more relaxed than ever"
- (C)Getty Images
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Argentinian had seen pressure ramp up on him in recent weeks following two dismal performances against Liverpool and Wolves in the space of a week. But his Blues side responded convincingly on Wednesday night with a dominant display against Aston Villa that sealed their passage to the FA Cup fifth round. Pochettino says that he is not listening to the noise off the field, and again stressed the need for patience in an incredibly young squad.
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WHAT POCHETTINO SAID
Speaking to after the 3-1 win, the Chelsea boss said: "Other things worry me in life, but not football. Today I was more relaxed than ever because I knew the team would perform. You know when the players are with you and care for you. I could fee it after [the loss to] Wolves. We are talking about the youngest team in the Premier League, but with expectations so high. It's normal sometimes the players feel the pressure to be in the top four and challenge for big things. It's not easy to manage these things. Our belief is 200% but maybe around our environment there are some noises, but that's just football."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The "noise" Pochettino refers to erupted from all corners of the Chelsea fanbase after Sunday's dire 4-2 defeat at home to Wolves. The Stamford Bridge faithful didn't hesitate to show their disapproval, not only booing but also chanting the names of former manager Jose Mourinho and ex-owner Roman Abramovich. Blues supporters typically took to social media to voice their displeasure but were joined by none other than Thiago Silva's wife Belle. Pochettino has since played down that feud.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Enzo Fernandez's wonderstrike in the second half means his last three goals for Chelsea have come in cup competitions (against Preston in the FA Cup third round and versus Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg).