Following Captain Reece James’ dismissal, Anthony Gordon netted the fourth goal for the home team, pushing Chelsea 10 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, who won’t play until Sunday.
Due to a touchline ban, Pochettino had to witness the game from the stands, expressing frustration at his team’s performance, deeming it “so easy” for Newcastle and subsequently canceling their day off.
In an interview with Premier League Productions, the Argentine coach labeled it their worst game of the season, emphasizing the lack of passion and drive. Even with the score at 1-1, they missed an opportunity to force Newcastle to play deep, leading to a disappointing performance.
Pochettino acknowledged the need for his team to face such scenarios to understand the required standards. Despite the typical post-game routine, he advocated holding everyone accountable, shifting away from solely blaming the athletes. He stressed the importance of accepting responsibility and learning from situations to compete at the expected level.
In his view, the process involves recognizing the necessity of strengthening accountability and drawing lessons from experiences. Despite possessing a talented team, Pochettino emphasized that competing differs from merely playing on the field.
The disappointment prompted a post-game locker room discussion, with Pochettino advocating for a departure from the norm, suggesting heading straight to the hotel after a game, resting, and starting early training the next day without a day off.
Ultimately, he highlighted the ongoing journey of realizing the standards required for top-tier competition, emphasizing the need to internalize responsibility and derive valuable lessons from challenging situations.
