MAURICIO POCHETTINO is set to return to the Premier League with Chelsea and will bring his bizarre methods of success with him. The former Tottenham boss has agreed terms to take over at Stamford Bridge with an announcement expected to follow.
Mauricio Pochettino is set to become Chelsea’s next managerCredit: Getty
Pochettino will replace Frank Lampard next month after the club legend took interim charge following Graham Potter’s sacking.
The Argentine has six years worth of Premier League experience following his time with Southampton and then Spurs.
But it was in North London where Pochettino really made his name and his methods known.
So here, SunSport runs exactly how the former centre-back got the best out of his players.
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Fruit loop
Pochettino keeps a tray of lemons in his office, after a friend told him the sour fruit absorbs negative energy.
He told talkSPORT in 2019: “They are there to get rid of bad energy.
“Some people arrive with bad energy and that goes into the lemons. It’s like a barrier, a sponge.
“They take away all the negativity and you can see — it’s unbelievable!
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“I change the lemons maybe every ten days but sometimes every three or four days because the lemons become bad, ugly.”
Pochettino believes lemons take away negativityCredit: Getty
Mauricio Pochettino with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy in 2016Credit: Getty – Contributor
Sense of aura
Pochettino is no different when it comes to using new-school data and analytics to judge players – but he also uses the old-fashioned eye test.
Writing in his book, Brave New World, he said: “I need data and tests, but what most influences my decisions is my ability to see if the right energy is flowing.
“I can foresee things that are going to happen and the associated consequences, or which path each player is going to take.
“I can see it in their auras.”
Mauricio Pochettino has a strong sense for players’ aurasCredit: Getty
Coal calling
During his five years with Spurs, Pochettino’s greatest success was leading the club to the Champions League final in 2019.
They were beaten by Liverpool in a result that must have burned – having prepared for it by walking over hot coals.
Pochettino said at the time: “All of them were unbelievably involved. They enjoyed it a lot.
“They were all very brave. And the staff who did it too. Your mind is powerful and only you set your limits.”
He also used the task during his time with Southampton.
Mauricio Pochettino walks over hot coals during Southampton’s 2013 pre-seasonCredit: Southampton FC
Pochettino shows his team how it is doneCredit: Southampton FC
Snap out of it
The daring tasks did not stop there as Pochettino also had his players snapping arrows against their throats before the European final.
He explained: “When you see the arrow, you think ‘it’s impossible, how am I going to break the arrow against my throat?’
“You say: ‘No, come on, I am going to kill myself.’ You put it with the sharp tip against your throat but then, bang, you come forward and break the arrow.
“The most important thing is to learn how you can prepare your mind. To be focused. To be proactive. This is the key in football.”
A brave volunteer breaks an arrow on his neck
Gacon test
Not all of Pochettino’s methods are madness, others and tried and tested, including relying on fitness.
The manager has been known to favour lots of running in training, using a gruelling intermittent shuttle run called the Gacon test.
Pochettino revealed in his book: “To start with, the players have 45 seconds to cover 150 metres, with 15 seconds to rest.
“In each subsequent 45-second rep, they have to run 6.25 metres further, with the intensity steadily increasing.”
Mauricio Pochettino emphasis running in his trainingCredit: Getty – Contributor
Daz the way to do it
Chelsea stars ought to be careful when weaving amongst the supermarket aisles… Poch is watching.
Or should that be “smelling”?
Pochettino chooses the exact washing powder he wants to be used to wash the first-team kit.
Apparently, he thinks the smell is important for game-day.
Pochettino is very fussy about what washing powder to useCredit: Getty
Smile for the camera
Danny Rose revealed his former boss recorded everything from training to individual highlights, tracking and tracing his stars.
Per The Telegraph, Rose said: “He’s very thorough, very precise, he’s a disciplinarian. He records training.
“He was the first manager I came across who records training, records gym sessions. There’s no hiding places.
“There was one game, we played Crystal Palace, and I thought I had a good game.
“He called me into his office the next day to analyse the game. I thought there were going to be some good clips.
“He had 26 bad clips of what I did wrong. That’s how he is as a manager.”
Mauricio Pochettino likes to study footageCredit: Reuters
Fine by me
Pochettino is lenient when it comes to penalising his squad and chooses not to impose harsh fines on his squad.
But respect is imperative and players will be expected to address co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali with a “hello” or handshake.
Pochettino said in 2016: “In the beginning, there were more rules but today not so many because they share the value.
“Today, we share the rules, on and off the pitch. And the rules become a habit.
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“One example: Every morning, we all shake hands with each other to show respect, to show you feel for your team-mates and that you are interested in the people with whom you shake hands.
“This is a small thing which means a lot to create a real team. A lot of things like this are important to settle in the team and show in the team. To be ready to fight for each other.”
Mauricio Pochettino would insist on ‘respect’ within his clubCredit: Reuters More
