Mauricio Pochettino hosts a barbecue at Chelsea to lift the team's spirits, but the players were only allowed lean meat, salad and water, and it rained
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino hosted what looks like one of the most boring barbecues in history as he tried to lift spirits at the club.
The boss said he really wants to do the Chelsea Training camp feels like “home” and “creates a good feeling” among players and staff before Sunday's FA Cup clash against Leicester – LIVE on talkSPORT – but there was a big problem at this meeting.
We all love a barbecue and Argentinians are no exception with their famous love of steak.
But perhaps it's no surprise that the average person's idea of barbecue and food prepared for professional athletes are slightly different.
Still, Poch's spree sounded a little boring, as the club's strict nutritionists were said to be keeping a close eye on the players. Spoil sports!
No burgers, fries or alcohol were offered, as players were given a variety of specialty sausages, lean cuts of beef and a healthy green salad, all washed down with water and orange juice.
And to make matters worse, it rained, and players and staff were forced to take shelter under a tent.
How British.
We're joking, of course, because it doesn't actually sound that silly or boring at all, with Pochettino going to great lengths and thinking outside the box in an attempt to rally his troops for the filming of the season.
Speaking about the team bonding session, Pochettino said: “The idea is to share between the players and the staff. Staff are also invited.
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“I think there will be 120, 130 people. The most important thing is that the players understand what it means to be Chelsea players.
“But we have to be responsible. I propose a barbecue but then there are two nutritionists who will control what they are going to eat.
“We drink water, orange juice, no alcohol, we don't eat too much, we eat protein. Green salad, no fries.
“We will all be together. Of course having a barbecue doesn't mean that we're going to score goals afterwards, but of course it's about communication, about feeling better.
“So that this is not just a training camp that you come to work at. It is our home and we want to create a good feeling between everyone. Make people fight for the same thing: to win.”
The boss added: “We use different strategies. All players are different. They come from different countries, from different origins, from different cultures.
“Paying attention to that is a big job. We analyze their profiles Not only their physical profiles but their characters. It's very important”.
It's not the first time Pochettino has hosted a barbecue for his Chelsea players, having also hosted one last summer, with the events organized by Argentine grill company Parrilla Gaucha, who even created a custom grill for the Blues star and Argentina, Enzo Fernández.
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Has been Another tough campaign for the Blues.which ranks 11th in the Premier League.
They are only eight points away manchester united However, sixthly, qualification for European football is not yet completely ruled out.
It may be the Europa Conference League, but Pochettino says Chelsea (winners of the Champions League in 2012 and 2021) will respect any competition they enter.
He said: “We need to accept the reality and if we get to the end of the season and qualify for the Conference League, we need to accept and respect the competition and try to win the competition.
“We have to accept reality. I'm not going to say anything, it's an international competition.”
First, however, Chelsea have a great opportunity to return some positivity to the club this weekend. against Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals – with LIVE commentary on talkSPORT.
Pochettino will be desperate to give fans something to celebrate with a trophy still up for grabs, having lost in the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool.
Tune in to talkSPORT to Chelsea vs Leicester LIVE Commentary in the FA Cup quarter-finals – Sunday, March 17, kick-off: 12:45 p.m.
