New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has described Chelsea as “the greatest team in England” over the last 10 to 15 years.
Pochettino said this while granting an interview on his first day at the Cobham training ground on Monday.
Chelsea have won 21 trophies since 2004, including five Premier League titles and two Champions League titles.
However, due to a horrendous run of form, the club sacked two managers last season alone but still ended 12th.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: Chelsea sack first team coach Graham Potter
“In the last 10, 12, 15 years, Chelsea is the greatest team in England,” 51-year-old Pochettino said.
“I know very well the Premier League and what the culture of Chelsea means. I think our fans are excited to again be on the road of trying to win.”
He failed to win anything in his previous six-year spell in England. However, reached the 2019 UEFA Champions League final with Spurs – losing to Jurken Klopp’s Liverpool.
“We are excited to work with a very young team, with a different approach than in the past,” he said.
“But I think we all need to understand that we have to work really hard and create a very good atmosphere at the training ground to build success for the team in the next few years.
“it was easy for us to make the decision…”
“For me, it is a pleasure and honour to now be involved with Chelsea Football Club. We are so excited, and I know Chelsea very well, it is one of the greatest clubs in the world. So of course, it was easy for us to make the decision to move here.”
New owner Todd Boehly sacked Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter in his first season. The club spent about Ā£288m in January, which was more than the combined total of all clubs in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1.
Mauricio Pochettino has a huge task at Chelsea. He takes over a squad that were woeful last season. This summer alone, the Blues have seen the likes of Edouard Mendy, N’Golo KantĆ©, Kalidou Koulibaly all leaving the Stamford Bridge to join Saudi Arabian clubs.
Also, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic have teamed up with AC Milan and Manchester City respectively.
Another exit that may be quite painful to a section of the Blues’ faithfuls is that of midfielder Mason Mount. The 24-year-old England player has agreed to join eternal rivals Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have added France striker Christopher Nkunku to their squad. He joins from German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for Ā£52m.
In a similar development, Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson has also been snapped up by Chelsea from Villarreal. The young forward has put pen to paper on an eight-year contract.
Pochettino however said a “very clear project” is now in place which may take time but Chelsea still need to “be at the top”.
“History of the club is to be at the top”
He added: “From the beginning, the owners and sporting directors were very clear about the project and we were very excited to join them in this project.
ALSO READ: PSG set to sack Pochettino and Leonardo
“We are here to try to help the club and the fans. In the end, the most important thing in football is for them to be happy and to feel proud of us and in the way we approach games. The players need to know that.
“Of course, there are always ups and downs in the history of football, but Chelsea is a club that it is impossible to have these up and downs.
“We need to be sure that we bring what the club needs to be at the top because the history of the club is to be at the top.”
When asked about whether he feels he has evolved as a coach, Pochettino said: “Of courses, I am much much much much better nowā¦”
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