Mauricio Pochettino apologizes to Chelsea fans for 'unacceptable' and 'soft' performance in Arsenal humiliation
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino criticized his team's performance against Arsenal and apologized to fans after the 5-0 defeat.
He Blues They suffered their worst London derby defeat in 38 years on Tuesday night, with the Gunners sweeping the Emirates Stadium.
Leandro Trossard got the ball rolling in the fifth minute, before Ben White and Kai Havertz helped themselves doubles in the second half.
The result leaves Chelsea languishing in ninth place in the table, 30 points off the top. Arsenal.
And with the club already suffering 11 defeats in the top flight this season, Pochettino He was quick to criticize his team's “unacceptable” and “soft” performance.
Expressing his opinion on the attack on talkSPORT's Sam Matterface, Pochettino said: “It's hard to explain.
“We started the first half very badly, we didn't show energy and we didn't compete, and in the second half we started in the same way.
“We talked a lot at half-time trying to fix that situation, but it was very easy for Arsenal to score two (quick) goals in the second half.”
Pochettino continued: “We do not compete as a team, that is very clear. We are inconsistent for different reasons.
“Starting the game as we started is not acceptable, that is the problem.
“After 70/80 minutes, you're tired and you have no energy, but it was the start of the game.
“The way we started was really painful and I feel very disappointed because if we want to compete, we not only have to go there and play football, we also have to have more energy and concentration.
“That's the hardest thing to explain.”
Commenting on Chelsea's worst result in a London derby since 1986, Poch said: “It's bad for the players, the club, the coaching staff, everything.
“Everyone is hurt after this result, but the problem is to realize before, when you are preparing for the game, if you want to compete, you have to realize that it is a London derby.
“All I can say is that I apologize to the fans, I apologize to the people because I think in the first and second 15 minutes (first and second half), 30 minutes of the game, we did not compete.
“We were so soft, it's so painful, so painful.”
Pressed by his pain after the defeat, Pochettino said: “You can't ask me after losing 5-0 to Arsenal in a London derby to put my best foot forward and be happy and positive.
“I need a few hours to recover, because I think it's not nice to see your team not competing during the game, and the way we lose is very painful.”