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      Mauricio Pochettino on feeling the heat at Espanyol, being proud of Tottenham’s ‘wins’ and his long-term Chelsea vision

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      TAKING on the impossible is part of Mauricio Pochettino’s managerial DNA.He arrived on English shores with Southampton in January 2013 as a nobody, and left in November 2019 having led Tottenham to a Premier League title challenge and a Champions League final.
      Mauricio Pochettino is starting a new era of his managerial career at ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Pochettino admits he struggled with the pressure during his days at EspanyolCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He took on the superstars and egomaniacs while at Paris Saint-Germain, and now, back in the UK, is tasked with leaving a long-lasting legacy at Chelsea – an institution that sacks coaches for fun.
      Pochettino is used to pressure. In fact, at this stage of his career, he thrives off it.
      Yet that was not always the case. A month after receiving his UEFA Pro License in December 2008, the Argentine was handed the reins at his old club Espanyol – his first senior post – at the age of 36.
      Pochettino explained: “It was like all or nothing. You feel: ‘If we don’t win tomorrow or tonight, my career is going to be a disaster’. It was difficult.”
      This fear of failure clearly had a positive impact. In his first season in charge in La Liga, the Argentine led Espanyol to a top 10 finish, including a famous victory away at Pep Guardiola’s Treble-winning Barcelona.
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      In the fourteen years since, Poch is now recognised as one of the most respected managers in the game, sticking to his principles regardless of position, form or hostility.
      So, how does he deal with the pressure now? Poch smiled: “Maybe I sleep better.
      “When I started at Espanyol it was massive pressure because we were fighting relegation. Southampton was similar, Tottenham was for different reasons.
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      “PSG yes, and now with Chelsea it is different. Always you are under pressure. You always feel the adrenaline but after you disconnect and say: ‘Now I need to rest. I need to sleep’.
      “That experience has helped me to have better sleep and to enjoy time with my family and my friends, with the staff and the players. Before it was more bam, bam, bam, bam.
      “We use the experience to learn the passion is there, the adrenaline is there, the discipline.
      “But it is about knowing when to be in this process and when to have time to enjoy yourself – when to liberate the players from all this pressure.
      “How we behave as a coaching staff will transmit itself to the players.”
      At the age of 51, Poch insists he is far from the same coach he was back in Spain. Triumphs have shaped that, as have disappointments.
      He said: “We have changed in many things. We’re older now and when you’re 50 you need to be careful, because your change is quick! We got experience in different leagues.
      “We are more mature and we learned a lot in different situations. We always judge ourselves and want to improve. The experience gave the possibility to improve.
      “We are much better people now.”
      Pochettino enjoyed a successful period at Spurs, despite not winning a trophyCredit: Getty
      His five-year stint at Spurs was often tainted with the notion that the club did not have the desire nor the mentality to win silverware – something Antonio Conte accused them of during his chaotic tenure.
      Poch argued: “When I was at Tottenham it was a different period but I think the mentality to win was there. We won. Maybe we didn’t lift a trophy, but we won in many, many ways.”
      And during his 18-month spell with PSG, the burden of accommodating big names such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe took its toll.
      Poch added: “We won the cup, we won the league, but when you arrive at a club like Paris Saint-Germain it is about winning the Champions League.
      “If you don’t win the Champions League, like the coaching staff last season, you need to move on. I hope that changes because Paris deserves to be more consistent, and needs time to build something.”
      And so to Chelsea, where Poch truly believes he can build something “special” with the right amount of patience and trust from an owner in Todd Boehly who has already had three permanent managers since his takeover in June 2022.
      Foolish hope from Poch? Only time will tell, not that the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter, as well as interim boss Frank Lampard, would necessarily agree.
      Poch is not naïve. He knows he needs to win, and win now. He said: “Chelsea is a different club, different period, different process, different project. If we don’t win we will struggle.”
      All eyes will be on Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend of the Premier League season as Chelsea host Liverpool – a team and model of consistency and quality under Jurgen Klopp that Poch would like to emulate one day.
      There remains work to be done in order to achieve that. Another hectic transfer window means Poch, like Potter, will have to juggle and get the best out of an unbalanced and inexperienced squad with time firmly not on his side.
      Poch said: “I’m excited to start something medium and long term, but in football you never know. We try to work in this way, that’s important.
      “Then, we will see if we will have good pressure and see if it’s going to help to believe. We all need to be together to see if we can develop something special here.
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      “We need to have a plan and we need to have a guide that says: ‘We need to arrive there’, and if we arrive before, perfect.
      “But if not, we know that we are going to arrive at the destination.” More

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      Crystal Palace ‘open loan transfer talks’ for Chelsea wonderkid, 18, who made nine Premier League appearances last term

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      CRYSTAL PALACE are reportedly working on a deal to sign Lewis Hall on loan from Chelsea.The 18-year-old looks set to sign a new deal at Stamford Bridge before heading out elsewhere to gain regular first-team minutes.
      Lewis Hall looks set to join Palace on loan for the 2023/2024 seasonCredit: Getty
      Hall picked up Chelsea’s academy Player of the Season award and made nine Premier League appearances last term.
      The talented youngster – who was left out of the England U21 Euro winning team due to age – can be deployed at left-back or in midfield.
      And despite Chelsea’s disastrous season, the youngster delivered some impressive performances.
      Stepping up in Ben Chilwell’s absence, the teenager came the closest to scoring in Chelsea’s Carabao Cup defeat at Manchester City.

      According to the South London Press, Hall could be heading to the south of the capital with Palace this summer.
      The Blues are intent on keeping Hall long-term, but want him to gain regular first-team minutes.
      Chelsea have a lot of left-back options right now, so it may be best if Hall does spend some time away from Stamford Bridge.
      The Englishman is currently fighting Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella and Ian Maatsen for a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI.
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      Selhurst Park is an ideal loan location for Hall as Palace have a history of making use of Chelsea’s youngsters.
      The Eagles have taken Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Patrick Bamford, Michy Batshuayi and Conor Gallagher on loan from the West Londoners since winning promotion to the Premier League in 2013.

      Palace’s squad is currently looking rather depleted, after the expiry of Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur contracts, and club legend Wilfried Zaha’s exit on a free transfer.
      Roy Hodgson’s side kick off their Premier League campaign at newly-promoted Sheffield United August 12. More

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      Chelsea ‘finally reach agreement to sign Brighton star with medical set to take place imminently’ in huge transfer boost

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      CHELSEA have reached an agreement with Brighton for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.The Spaniard, who will count towards the club’s homegrown quota, will provide competition for Kepa Arrizabalaga.
      Chelsea have agreed a deal with Brighton for keeper Robert SanchezCredit: Getty
      The Blues were keen to bring in additional competition for Kepa after Edouard Mendy left for Saudi side Al-Ahli in June.
      Now, according to David Ornstein, a medical is set to take place “imminently” after a deal was reached between the two clubs.
      Chelsea will pay an initial £20million fee plus £5m in performance related add-ons.
      Blues goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts is a big fan of Sanchez having worked with him at Brighton previously.
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      Sanchez had established himself firmly as Brighton’s number one goalkeeper under Graham Potter.
      But, after the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi, Sanchez found himself falling down the pecking order.
      He was replaced as Brighton’s number one by Jason Steele in March.
      Brighton have since added Dutch Under-21 goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen this summer from Anderlecht for £16.3 million, forcing Sanchez further down the pecking order.
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      He was left out of Brighton’s pre-season tour of the US as the club focused on finding a move for the goalkeeper.
      Meanwhile Brighton and Chelsea remain locked in talks over the signing of Moises Caicedo.

      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is desperate to add quality and experience to his midfield after losing Matteo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz this summer.
      Chelsea have so far had two bids rejected for the midfielder this summer – with their latest being £80m.
      Brighton are insisting on a £100m fee to make the deal happen.
      And Chelsea could miss out with the Seagulls reportedly receiving a bid from another club on Wednesday. More

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      Mauricio Pochettino leaks Chelsea XI for Premier League opener with Liverpool including shock name in midfield

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      MAURICIO POCHETTINO has revealed his strongest Chelsea line-up ahead of the upcoming season.Chelsea played out a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season game before the start of the Premier League.
      Pochettino started with his strongest XI against Borussia DortmundCredit: Getty
      He expects his starting XI for Borussia Dortmund to be the same for Chelsea’s season opener
      And Pochettino said after the game that the XI he started with will likely be the one we see in their Premier League opener against Liverpool.
      The new Blues boss said: “This was about giving 90 minutes to the team in my head that I plan to play because the season is only 10 days away.”
      The majority of the game was deadlocked at 0-0 before Dortmund right-back Marius Wolf opened the scoring in the 80th minute.
      Chelsea then netted a last minute equaliser through youngster Mason Burstow.
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      Despite the result, Pochettino said he was impressed with his side’s performance.
      He said: “It was an exciting game. We deserved to win. But it’s not about the results. It’s about the feeling.

      “There’s only one option, to be ready for the new season. I think we played really well today.”
      Much of Chelsea’s summer transfer window has been dominated by what is increasingly becoming a saga over signing Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo.
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      Chelsea have had two bids rejected for the midfielder, including one of £80million.
      Pochettino is desperate to reinforce his midfield options after the club sold Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz this summer.
      But a youthful midfield that included Conor Gallagher, Enzo Fernandez and Carney Chukwuemeka did impress in Chicago.
      Chukwuemeka arrived last summer from Aston Villa for £20m but found appearances limited under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard last season.
      Chukwuemeka looks to have the trust of Pochettino, starting in the number 10 role as part of the team that will likely play against Liverpool on Chelsea’s opening day of the season.
      The Blues did face an injury scare over new signing Christopher Nkunku, who was forced off the field with a knee injury in the first half.
      Pochettino said “Hopefully it is not a big issue and that he can be quick with the team. We need a few days to assess him and until we get back to London it is difficult to know.” More

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      Tottenham ‘leading Chelsea and Arsenal in race to sign Bundesliga star Edmond Tapsoba’

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      TOTTENHAM are leading the way to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba, according to reports.Sports guru Patrick Berger claims Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou is planning to put a £39m bid in for the 6ft 4in defender.
      Tottenham are prepared to make a new bid for Edmond TapsobaCredit: Getty
      Arsenal and Chelsea have also expressed their interest in the 24-year-old Burkina Faso international, but Tottenham’s new offer could put them off chasing him.
      The Bundesliga side however are expected to demand around £45m for Tapsoba, who has made over 100 appearances for the club.
      The Leverkusen ace, who joined from Vitória de Guimarães in 2020, has been labelled an “exceptional” defender after shining under Xabi Alonso
      However, there are questions marks over whether Postecoglou can convince Tapsoba to move to White Hart Lane.
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      So far the North London club has added Manor Solomon, James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario this summer.
      But Postecoglou is still without a new centre-back and is close to finalising a deal with Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven.

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      Even with a deal closing in soon for Van de Ven, Spurs are still pushing to complete a transfer for Tapsoba.
      Postecoglou also has concerns at the other end of the pitch with Harry Kane’s move to Bayern seemingly edging closer, with the German giants expected to up their latest bid of £82m.
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      However, one journalist has begged the Bundesliga champions NOT to sign the England captain and called Kane a “30-year-old bone” in a scathing open letter in a newspaper.
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      Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven is close to signing with SpursCredit: Getty More

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      Fans say Enzo Fernandez ‘has no idea what he’s done’ as £107m star names favourite Chelsea chant

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      FANS joked Enzo Fernandez “has no idea what he’s done” after naming his favourite Chelsea chant. The Argentine World Cup winner became the Blues’ record signing in January after moving in a £107million deal from Benfica.
      Enzo Fernandez in pre-season for ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Fernandez, 22, settled in amid a chaotic period at Chelsea, full of managerial switches and squad turmoil.
      The midfielder is already a fans’ favourite and named the chant he enjoys the most at Stamford Bridge.
      He told B/R Football: “The one I like the most is ‘Come on Chelsea, come on Chelsea’! I love that one, I like it.”
      There is a long standing joke Chelsea fans only have one chant, so Fernandez quickly walked into some hilarious responses.
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      One said: “Enzo Fernandez has no idea what he’s done here and I’m all for it.
      “His second favourite has to be the classic “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelseaaaa.”
      Another added: “His second favourite chant… “Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea… Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea…”
      One agreed: “Is this because that’s the only one they have maybe.”
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      Another commented: “I genuinely thought this was a p***take when I saw someone tweet it yesterday.”
      Fernandez prepares to play under new manager Mauricio Pochettino with their eyes on the Premier League prize.
      He said: “Now we have a new head coach, you have to say the expectations of us have changed.
      “Obviously when I arrived, everything was difficult, there were lots of changes going on and everything happened so fast for me. But now the expectations have changed.
      “We want to be an aggressive team, a team that attacks and defends well, that goes into every game to win it whoever we’re playing against and look to dominate every game we’re in.
      “And obviously we want to try to win the Premier League, that’s our goal this year.
      “As well as that, I think the cups in England start in January, but the main aim this year is to win the Premier League.”
      Chelsea fans in pre-season – Enzo likes one particular song of theirsCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea complete £23.2m Lesley Ugochukwu transfer as Rennes midfielder signs SEVEN-YEAR deal

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      CHELSEA have completed the signing of Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes.The teenage midfielder has joined the Blues for £23.2million, signing a seven-year deal with the option of a further year.
      Chelsea have completed the £23.2million signing of Lesley UgochukwuCredit: Getty
      Ugochukwu has signed a seven-year deal with ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Ugochukwu becomes Chelsea’s fifth signing of the summer, following Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Angelo and Diego Morreira through the door at Stamford Bridge.
      The France under-19 international has already joined up with his new team-mates on their pre-season tour of the USA.
      He is set to train in Chicago on Tuesday night and could make his Chelsea debut against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
      Manager Mauricio Pochettino has hinted that he could still be loaned out before the end of the transfer window.
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      Reacting to the signing, he told reporters: “He’s a talented guy, we need to assess him.
      “We will assess him for the transfer window to see if he will be with us because he is young.”

      “He has the possibility to be on loan or stay with us.”
      Ugochukwu arrives after coming through the Rennes academy and making 60 first-team appearances.
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      He made his Ligue 1 debut in 2021 just 30 days after his 17th birthday, before becoming a regular last term.
      During the course of the 2022/23 season, the defensive midfielder starred in both the league and in Europe.
      Rennes enjoyed a successful campaign as they finished fourth in the league and reached the knockout stages of the Europa League.
      Lesley Ugochukwu becomes Chelsea’s fifth summer signingCredit: Getty More

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      Atletico boss Simeone blasts ‘nobody is bigger than the club’ after Chelsea flop Felix flirts with Barcelona transfer

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      ATLETICO Madrid boss Diego Simeone has hit back at Joao Felix and insisted “nobody is bigger than the club”.It comes after Felix admitted his desire to join Barcelona, causing a commotion with his current employers.
      Diego Simeone says ‘nobody is bigger than the club’Credit: AP
      In an interview with AS, Simeone refused to answer questions about the 23-year-old’s future.
      The Argentine, 53, said: “The main focus is the team. It is normal that in the press the focus is on whether he stays or leaves.
      “I already said that there is no one more important than the club, with no exceptions. It’s impossible to be clearer than that.”
      Portuguese international Felix joined the 11-time La Liga champs for a record-breaking £103million in 2019.
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      He spent the second half of last season on loan at Chelsea, making 16 appearances and scoring four goals.
      During his time at Stamford Bridge, the striker suffered a three-match ban for a tackle on Fulham’s Kenny Tete.
      Although the striker has not played up to his price tag Simeone did not want to blast his style of play.
      He continued: “He has his playing characteristics, he has given his all, he has made an effort to work well with what he has, and what we demanded of him.
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      “I cannot have any complaints about his effort because he has given what he could give
      “He has extraordinary ability, we have talked about it a billion times. You see him and he has a good header, a good shot with the left, with the right, good spin, one on one…
      “Is there time [for Felix to succeed at Atletico]? It’s not up to me, ask him and his representative.”
      In an interview with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano a few weeks back Felix dropped where his dream destination to play would be.
      He said: “I’d love to play for Barca. Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
      A deal with the Spanish giants is highly unlikely at the moment however with Barca still struggling financially.
      Joao Felix spent the second half of last season at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      Felix has admitted his dream team is BarcelonaCredit: Getty More