Mauricio Pochettino's Insights: Pre-Newcastle United Press Conference Highlights

 Introduction:

In a recent press conference ahead of the upcoming clash with Newcastle United,Chelsea's head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, provided valuable insights into the team's dynamics, player updates, and the challenges they face. Let's delve into the key highlights from the event.

Assessment of Players:

Pochettino began by addressing the return of Moises Caicedo, marking it as the final return, and now the focus shifts to assessing the team's condition. Notably, the starting XI for the upcoming match has been decided, but the coach opted to keep it confidential, adding an element of anticipation for the fans.

Today was the last one [to return], Moises Caicedo, Now we need to assess. They already know the starting XI for tomorrow, I'm not going to make public. All arrive in a normal condition. Already picked the starting XI..."

Injury Updates:

Providing a glimpse into the team's health, Pochettino revealed that Colwill is fit to play. However, the status of Lavia and Nkunku remains uncertain. While both players are in good condition, Nkunku is slightly ahead in his recovery, having participated in group activities. Pochettino emphasized the gradual approach to ensure a full recovery for these key players.

"Colwill yes [fit to play]. Lavia and Nkunku still out. No, it's difficult to assess them. They are in a good condition. Nkunku a little ahead of Lavia. Doing things with the group last week, still not full recovery."

Wesley Fofana's Return:

The coach expressed joy at seeing Wesley Fofana back on the field, describing it as a massive motivation for both the player and the team. Fofana's return adds depth to the squad, and his presence is expected to have a positive impact.

It was nice to see [him back on the grass]. For him it was a massive motivation to be there and for us also."

Team Consistency and Maturity:

Pochettino acknowledged the team's need for consistency, citing their performance disparities against different opponents. He emphasized the importance of settling principles and ideas during the upcoming period, highlighting PSG's status as a young team in the early stages of development. The coach stressed the need for increased maturity.

It's going to be an important period for us to settle our principles and ideas. We were not consistent in the first period... We talked today in our meeting to try to find why. We were very good against Arsenal, Liverpool and struggled against teams with less quality than us and play in a different way. That's part of process, we're a young team, started work four months ago and we need to be more mature."

Confidence Boost:

Following a recent positive period, Pochettino conveyed the team's growing confidence. However, he underlined the importance of confirming this shift in tomorrow's match against Newcastle, signaling the team's determination to maintain their newfound form.

"We are more confident [after the recent period] tomorrow [vs Newcastle] we need to confirm we are in a different way..."

Christopher Nkunku's Loss and Potential:

Pochettino spoke highly of Christopher Nkunku, labeling him a fantastic player. Despite the setback of losing him at the beginning, the coach expressed optimism about finding the best way to integrate Nkunku into the team, emphasizing the gradual process of building his form.

A fantastic player... he can play in different positions. Really bad luck to lose him for the beginning. Step by step we'll find the best way for him to fit in the team. He needs to build his form..."

Eddie Howe's Impact:

Pochettino acknowledged Eddie Howe's commendable job at Newcastle, recognizing him as one of the best coaches in England. He highlighted the impressive turnaround Howe orchestrated, taking Newcastle from the bottom to a notable position. The PSG coach acknowledged the challenges they anticipate from a team under Howe's guidance.

 "Doing a great job. Great manager, one of the best coaches in England. Need to remember he arrived when Newcastle was bottom and look where Newcastle is. We know very well they are doing a fantastic job..."

Reece James' Readiness: Pochettino expressed optimism about Reece James, stating, "He's doing well, he's at a very good level. Now you know one player that is going to play." The manager's confidence in James suggests that the player has been performing impressively in training and is poised to make a significant contribution. However, Pochettino remained cautious about whether James is ready to play the full 90 minutes, leaving fans in suspense.

"We'll see [if he's ready to play 90 minutes]. He's doing well, he's at a very good level. Now you know one player that is going to play."

The Mental Aspect of Performance: When addressing the team's contrasting performances against big and smaller sides, Pochettino emphasized the psychological dimension, saying, "It's more mental than tactical or physical." The manager acknowledged that the team needs to be clever in their assessment of these situations. This insight provides a glimpse into Pochettino's approach to managing the squad's mentality and highlights the importance he places on the psychological aspects of the game.

"It was a player with the conditions here, too many players in that position ahead of him. The player and the club took the best decision for both sides. Unlucky that he cannot play but he has a good future..."

Wesley Fofana's Return: On the topic of Wesley Fofana's return from injury, Pochettino remained uncertain, stating, "I don't know [when he will return]. [Next year?] Yes." This uncertainty underscores the challenges of managing player fitness and the unpredictability of the recovery process. Pochettino's acknowledgment that Fofana might return next year indicates a cautious approach to the player's rehabilitation.

"I don't know [when he will return]. [Next year?] Yes."

Lewis Hall's Departure: Discussing Lewis Hall's departure from the club, Pochettino explained, "The player and the club took the best decision for both sides." Despite recognizing Hall's potential, the manager highlighted the competitive nature of the squad, with too many players in Hall's position ahead of him. Pochettino expressed regret that Hall cannot play for the team but predicted a promising future for the young talent.

"It was a player with the conditions here, too many players in that position ahead of him. The player and the club took the best decision for both sides. Unlucky that he cannot play but he has a good future..."

Conclusion:

Mauricio Pochettino's press conference offered a comprehensive look into Paris Saint-Germain's current status, challenges, and aspirations. As the team continues to evolve, fans eagerly await the confirmation of their newfound confidence in the upcoming match against Newcastle United.