“Defend this shirt until the end” – Mauricio Pochettino makes promise to Chelsea fans

Mauricio Pochettino has vowed to bring pride back to the terraces of Stamford Bridge in an invigorating first address to Chelsea fans.

The Blues experienced one of the most underwhelming seasons in the club’s history last term, with their side finishing 12th in the Premier League whilst returning feeble efforts in both domestic and continental competition.

However, the arrival of new boss Pochettino symbolises a new start for Chelsea, with the hierarchy hoping to make their mark having bought the club in 2022.

Since the Todd Boehly–Clearlake Capital takeover, there has been astonishing off-pitch spending with little return on the pitch to show for it.

And not only the board, but Pochettino himself will be feeling he has a point to prove after being swiftly relieved of his duties in Paris in 2022, following an uninspiring tenure at PSG.

In an interview with the club’s in-house media, the Argentine promised to restore supporters’ faith in the team as well as Chelsea’s status as one of the top clubs in Europe.

“We need to be a team that shows togetherness, cares about the club, cares about the fans, and that fights until the end for the badge. That’s the most important thing.

“The fans need to feel that all the players involved in the game are going to die for the club. That is the most important thing to create this good feeling and for sure feel proud of each other.”

Pochettino, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, also alluded to his past with Chelsea’s bitter rivals, imploring fans to focus on the present and the future.

“I know very well that we need to build this relationship. Our past is our past, we respect and are proud of our past, but now is time to build at a new club, with different fans that behave and are different to other clubs,” the 51-year-old added.

“That is our responsibility to build a very good relationship with our new fans. We hope we can create as soon as possible this good feeling, but I know very well we need to create this good feeling around the signals the team sends to them.”

The Argentine, held the reigns in north London for five years and is widely praised for taking Spurs to their first ever Champions League final in 2019, which they went on to lose to eventual winners Liverpool.

And after seeing four different managers sit in the home dugout throughout the 2022/23 season, as well as years of managerial turmoil, fans of the club will be hoping their new boss can stamp his authority in SW6 in a long-term capacity.