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Chelsea gaffer Mauricio Pochettino found himself in the hot seat yet again, this time fielding questions about his eyebrow-raising move to bench Thiago Silva for their FA Cup showdown against Aston Villa.
The decision raised eyebrows, especially in light of Silva's recent on-field exploits and his wife Isabelle's controversial social media post, which seemed to take a swipe at Pochettino's management.
Pochettino Stands Firm Amidst Scrutiny
When grilled about his choice, Pochettino didn't mince words. "Why the question?," he retorted to ITV's Gabriel Clarke as reported by Daily Mail.
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"I am a professional and a coach and I always pick my players because of performance and balance. I understand the question but I want to be calm because I need to be professional and always make my decisions because of the professional side." His terse response left little room for interpretation.
Despite being prodded further on the matter, Pochettino remained resolute, snapping, "My answer was clear, no?" Clearly, the Argentine tactician wasn't entertaining any second-guessing of his managerial choices.
Silva's Personal Approach Clears the Air
In the aftermath of Isabelle Silva's social media outburst, Thiago Silva took matters into his own hands, seeking a personal conversation with Pochettino to ensure there were no lingering tensions.
Pochettino, however, kept tight-lipped about the specifics, deeming it a "private" conversation that was promptly addressed before training. "He came today to talk with me. I am not going to talk in the way we were talking.
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"The important thing is he came and wanted to talk with me. He knows me after more than 10 years, who I am, we are a very strong coaching staff and the way we operate.
"Of course, he came to talk. We talked. It was private. And that's it," Pochettino disclosed, shedding little light on the discussion.
Pochettino's Focus Shifts to On-field Challenge
Looking ahead to the Villa clash, Pochettino acknowledged the pressure mounting on his shoulders. "Now we have to win every game. I understand all the situation but today is a different competition.
Against a very good team," he commented. Despite the turmoil, Pochettino remained steadfast in his belief that Chelsea could rise above the adversity, stating, "We are in the final of the Carabao Cup but now we need to accept that too many (bad) things happen and we need to be calm and compete today.
It will be tough but we are convinced we can compete today." With the focus squarely on securing a vital victory, Pochettino was determined to weather the storm and lead his team to success on the pitch.
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