‘Not necessary to win titles’ - Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino makes bold ‘elite manager’ claim after stuttering first season with the Blues

The 51-year-old manager is yet to secure a trophy in English football but it seems that aspect is certainly not one of his concerns. With the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United already eliminated from the Carabao Cup, Chelsea stand a fair chance to lift their first trophy since the Club World Cup in February 2022.

However, Pochettino expressed that his status as an elite manager is not solely dependent on winning titles, emphasizing the importance of being in the right club, at the right moment, with all the necessary elements to secure victories.

Addressing the upcoming quarter-final against Newcastle, Pochettino told reporters: "You need to be in the right club, in the right moment, with all of the elements to win. To be an elite manager, it is not necessary to win titles. Many elite managers still didn't win or are going to win or won. It's important to analyse every single project and say you can progress or not or deliver the job everyone expects. It's important, more than us, for the club because it's going to be a boost in energy and I really believe in the project."

However, Pochettino soon went on to contradict himself and asserted that the Carabao Cup remains an objective for the Blues, as it is his "desire to win" a trophy in England.

"For us at the beginning of the season, it was an objective. It is still. We want to go through," he said. "For Newcastle also it is an important competition. We know we will be facing a good team, a Champions League team. I want to win a trophy here in England. It is important. My wish and my desire is to win. That is one of the competitions in which we are involved. It is important."

Pochettino revealed that the club is yet to decide on whether or not they are going to send Reece James for surgery after the full-back suffered a fresh hamstring problem in his side's 2-0 defeat to Everton last weekend. "There is still time to see. In the next few days, we will see and know the possibilities and options," he explained.

However, Pochettino did confirm that Christopher Nkunku may feature in the latter stages of the game, as the manager feels he has gathered up to 20 minutes in his legs after training with the first team since last week.