Mauricio Pochettino Says Chelsea ‘Never Feel Like Underdogs’ Ahead Of Manchester City Clash – News18

Mauricio Pochettino mentioned it’s “impossible” for Chelsea to consider themselves as underdogs as he prepares for the daunting activity of dealing with Premier League champions Manchester City.

Tenth-place Chelsea have a horrible latest file towards City — dropping the previous six video games in all competitions with out scoring a single objective.

But they go into Sunday’s match at Stamford Bridge boosted by a dramatic 4-1 victory towards 9-man Tottenham earlier this week.

Follow all of the motion from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 together with the World Cup schedule, World Cup 2023 outcomes, and ICC Cricket World Cup factors desk. Players are vying to high the World Cup 2023 Most Runs and World Cup 2023 Most Wickets charts.

Pochettino, in his first season in cost at Chelsea, had excessive reward for City boss Pep Guardiola and the membership as an entire at his pre-match press convention on Friday.

“For me they are the best team, have the best coaching staff and the best manager,” he mentioned. “We need to tell the truth — it is one of the best organisations in the world.

“When you have the results you are showing it’s because from the top to the bottom you are doing things really, really well.”

But the Argentine mentioned his group had proven of their match towards excessive-flying Spurs that they’d the expertise and character to compete with the highest golf equipment.

“Chelsea never have that feeling of being an underdog,” he mentioned. “The feeling is always ‘you are Chelsea’. It is impossible, the history is there. (But) I think we cannot go and say ‘we are the big team of the day’ on Sunday.

“We need to go there trying to be protagonists, with our personality, with our character.”

READ: Mikel Arteta Warns Keeper Aaron Ramsdale To Not Rush Decision Over Future At Arsenal

Guardiola, whose group are high of the Premier League, mentioned he was cautious of the menace posed by Chelsea, who’re searching for their fourth win in six video games within the league.

“Chelsea remain one of the most important teams in England,” he mentioned. “They won the Champions League under (Thomas) Tuchel against us (in 2021). It’s true they were not close to winning the Premier League in these seasons but they are one of the strongest teams, no doubt.

“I’ve seen the last games. They are alive, they have a good spirit, they’re aggressive and have good patterns. The quality is there. It’s one of the toughest games we have during the season.

“At the same time we will go there optimistic…. we have to try to maintain the level of our game but sooner or later Chelsea will be there fighting for titles, no doubt about that.”

READ: Jorginho, Federico Chiesa Called Up For Italy’s Euro 2024 Qualifiers, Ciro Immobile Misses Out

City defender John Stones will miss the match with a muscular drawback however Guardiola mentioned the damage was not as dangerous as first feared.

He additionally delivered a constructive replace on midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who might return earlier than the tip of the 12 months following surgical procedure on a hamstring damage he suffered in August.

“I would like to say in two weeks or three weeks, but these types of injury are better not to put any pressure on,” he mentioned. “When he feels good, the doctors and physios say go to the next step, then he is coming.”

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)